When inventors move into a U.S. county, startup success jumps — especially billion-dollar unicorns — according to the Cornell Chronicle. New research from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business shows that incoming inventors act as founders, skilled hires, and magnets for venture capital.
The study tracked inventor moves from 2000 to 2016 and found that every 12 to 15 arriving inventors typically lead to one new venture-backed startup. These companies attract more funding, land more IPOs or acquisitions, and fail less often than average startups.
But talent alone doesn’t work everywhere. The boost proves strongest in regions with existing startup activity, investors, and supportive ecosystems — not places starting from scratch.
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