Startup and venture capital news for Wednesday, September 2, 2026: the Anthropic and OpenAI IPO race, trillion-dollar AI valuations, and defence 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 capital funds are registering a new reality where a trillion-dollar valuation is no longer a fantasy. At the same time, the defence industrial complex is demonstrating record levels of private investment attraction, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and the active adoption of autonomous systems. We have analysed exchange data, Crunchbase reports, and internal fund documents to present you with the full picture of the day. Read on to learn deal details, key player names, and forecasts for the coming months. This piece will be useful for founders, investors, and anyone tracking market dynamics.