Across two studies of new venture teams, we apply socioanalytic theory to theorize and test linear and nonlinear relationships between lead founder personality and team innovation and team relationship conflict, and the mediating effects of these processes on new venture performance. Through competitive mediation modeling, we demonstrate that (1) team innovation and team relationship conflict have opposite directionalities of influence, (2) lead founder Machiavellianism and psychopathy have a curvilinear relationship with team innovation, while narcissism increases it, (3) lead founder Machiavellianism and psychopathy increase team relationship conflict, while narcissism decreases it, and (4) team innovation and team relationship conflict explain the complex relationships between lead founder personality and new venture performance.
