Investor Loyalty Collapses as Dozen-Plus OpenAI VCs Now Also Back Anthropic

Summary

A TechCrunch investigation by Julie Bort published February 23, 2026 found that at least a dozen venture capital firms with direct investments in OpenAI also became backers of Anthropic through its $30 billion Series G closed earlier that month. Named dual investors include Founders Fund, ICONIQ, Insight Partners, and Sequoia Capital. The development marks a significant breakdown in traditional venture capital conflict-of-interest norms, as investors in direct competitors now hold material stake