[bogtog]

Here is the actual paper. It's just 4.5 pages (excluding the Methods): https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.2215829120

I figure that the inverse association between conscientiousness and exiting is the most peculiar result. The Authors state:

"However, as the startup matures and moves past the initial stages, the dynamics between founders and investors might change in several ways. First, the same ambition that led conscientious founders to strive for success via IPO or acquisition at the begin- ning of their journey, might later prevent them from selling their venture once it is successful. For example, founders scoring low on conscientiousness might be more interested in quick financial gains (thereby aligning their goals with those of investors and one interpretation of startup success promoted by management schol- ars 41–43), whereas highly conscientious entrepreneurs might pursue long-term goals that no longer equate success with selling the company as fast as possible. Specifically, the combination of ambition with the desire to retain control over the future of their business might lead conscientious founders to place greater emphasis on long-term profitability and impact. Second, while the early stages of developing a business plan and gaining investors trust may have benefitted from the meticulous and organized ten- dencies of the conscientious founder, the later stages might favor founders with the flexibility and ability to adjust to new challenges and opportunities as the startup matures [e.g., through rapid ide- ation and prototyping rather than rigorous forecasting and stra- tegic planning (10, 44)]. Finally, the advantage afforded to founders scoring lower on conscientiousness could also be driven by shifting investor and market incentives that align with the (in)famous Silicon Valley “move-fast-and-break-things” culture (45). Potential acquirers, for example, might prefer a founder who they view as disruptive and adaptive, as a means to inject their own company with innovative capabilities or culture (46)"