VCs Predict 2026 Tech Trends: AI Code Debt, Autonomous Agents, and Talent-Driven M&A

Summary

Business Insider surveyed investors at 18 venture capital firms — including Bessemer Venture Partners, Theory Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and 645 Ventures — on the most important tech trends for 2026. Several key themes emerged: the growing realization that AI-generated code from the past two years is often inconsistent, hard to understand, and difficult to maintain (Lindsey Li, Bessemer); continued acceleration of M&A driven by demand for AI talent (Tomasz Tunguz, Theory Ventures); and AI agents