According to a recent PwC study, 27 percent of CEOs are considering or are already working with a competitor in some type of partnership.
Here is just a smattering of some higher profile examples.
1. Toyota + Ford
To fend off tech giants Apple and Google--which are trying to make inroads to the auto industry--this year Toyota teamed with Ford to integrate Ford's apps platform into its cars.
2. Microsoft + Dell
Even as their competition was heating up--Dell pushing into the cloud, Microsoft launching its own tablet--Dell announced last year that it would sell Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 tablet to corporate customers.
3. Lyft + General Motors
After GM invested $500 million in the ride-sharing service, the two unveiled a car-rental program to recruit Lyft drivers whose own vehicles don't pass muster, which has been the startup's biggest challenge.
4. Princeton + Stanford + University of Pennsylvania + University of Michigan
Any one of these universities could have launched edtech startup Coursera alone, but building it together helped attract VC interest while distributing the risk.
