What Silicon Valley can learn from Mother Russia

Imperial tax records mined for ingredients of successful start-ups

EVANSTON, Ill. — Venture capitalists deciding whether to fund a new start-up could learn a thing or two from imperialist Russia. A new analysis of relationships among Russian entrepreneurs during the economic boom of the late 1800s and early 1900s reveals that the most successful teams were a mix of outgoing, gregarious networkers and cohesive, insular types.