Startup and venture capital news — Wednesday, September 2, 2026: the Anthropic and OpenAI IPO race, trillion-dollar AI valuations, and defense technology records. This day will go down in history as a bifurcation point for the entire technology industry. We are witnessing an unprecedented event: two leaders in generative artificial intelligence have filed confidential applications for an initial public offering almost simultaneously. The market is holding its breath, analysts are revising forecasts, and venture funds are recording a new reality where a trillion-dollar valuation is no longer a fantasy. At the same time, the defense-industrial complex is demonstrating record levels of private capital attraction, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and the active deployment of autonomous systems. We have analyzed exchange data, Crunchbase reports, and internal fund documents to present you with the full picture of the day. Read on to learn the details of the deals, the names of key players, and forecasts for the coming months. This material will be useful for founders, investors, and anyone tracking market dynamics.