From one to many: education, diversity, and international experience in habitual vs. one-time founders

What sets apart entrepreneurs who continuously start new businesses from those who stick with their first venture? This paper delves into the characteristics that distinguish habitual founders from one-time founders. Analyzing a dataset of over 5000 individuals, we combine the concepts of cognitive entrenchment and human capital theory to uncover the general and specific traits that increase the likelihood of becoming a habitual founder. Our findings suggest that a higher level of education, diverse professional backgrounds, and international experience increase the chances of becoming a habitual founder. By exploring the backgrounds of habitual entrepreneurs, this study provides valuable insights for supporting and promoting an entrepreneurial career.What factors influence entrepreneurs to venture into multiple businesses, while some remain dedicated to a single enterprise? Our study, based on a sample of over 5000 entrepreneurs, reveals that those who repeatedly start new ventures-habitual founders-often have higher education levels, more diverse professional experiences, and greater international exposure than those who stick to a single enterprise-one-time founders. These diverse experiences help habitual entrepreneurs identify new opportunities and navigate the complexities of starting multiple businesses. Promoting educational diversity, varied career experiences, and international exposure can thus support the growth of habitual entrepreneurship. This has important implications for both research and practice, suggesting that fostering a broad-based education and encouraging diverse professional experiences can be key strategies in nurturing habitual entrepreneurs and understanding the factors that drive them.