Startup Cafe: H5E Founders with Ilya Pozin (Pluto TV, $340M Exit)
Join Jeffrey Chernick and Alix Gitter, co-authors of High Five Energy: A Different Kind of Founder (#1 Amazon New Release), for High Five Energy Founders Podcast, a deep dive into the founder experience building category-defining companies with purpose and flow.
Our special guest is Ilya Pozin, co-founder of Pluto TV, the free ad-supported streaming platform acquired by Viacom for $340 million. Ilya immigrated to the U.S. from St. Petersburg, Russia at age 8, launched his first company at 17, and has built and exited a string of ventures since. Today he's the Founder and CEO of Telly, the company reinventing the television itself by giving away dual-screen smart TVs for free, funded entirely by a second ad-supported screen.
Together, we'll explore the mindset shifts and behavioral tools behind the founder flow state, including what it means to go All In on a 20-year vision, how to Find Your Champion when you're building something no one understands yet, and why the builder's mindset doesn't stop at the exit. Walk away with clarity, strategy, and renewed energy to move forward.
Expect:
Live, unfiltered conversation and audience Q&A
Real founder stories and behavioral insights
A creative, high-vibe crowd of builders and believers
Networking, breakfast, and community energy before and after the show
Come for the advice. Stay for the flow.
Based on the book "High Five Energy: A Different Kind of Founder. Link to Book
Agenda
8:45 - 9:30 am • Coffee and Socialize
9:30- 10:30 am • Live Podcast Recording with Adam Miller
August 5th, 2026
Ilya Pozin is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Telly, the company giving away dual-screen smart televisions for free.
He is best known as the co-founder of Pluto TV, the ad-supported streaming service acquired by Viacom for $340 million in 2019. Ilya immigrated to the U.S. from St. Petersburg, Russia at age 8 and launched his first company, Ciplex, at 17, going on to found and exit multiple companies including Open Me. He is also one of LinkedIn's original named Influencers and a longtime business columnist for Inc, Forbes, and Entrepreneur.
About: Jeffrey Chernick
Jeffrey is a 3x founder, advisor, angel investor, and former Wall Street wealth manager. He has been featured by more than 30 media outlets including Techcrunch, Forbes, and the LA Times. His company RideAmigos is the leading commute management platform, taking millions of cars off the road annually.
With over 20 million downloads and $12 million raised, his visual caller ID app, Vyng, boasts 5 billion videos played across 170 countries (acquired by Siprocal). Chernick is an inventor of 21 US Patents, 3x Emory Goizueta Business School Alumni Luminary, and both a guest lecturer and advisory board member at Pepperdine University's Entrepreneurship MBA Program. In his spare time, Jeffrey DJ's around the world with neon drum sticks.
🔗 WEBSITE
About: Alix Gitter
Alix is an American actress, writer, and producer from Los Angeles, California. Known for roles in television movies such as Blue Lagoon: The Awakening and The Bling Ring, and appearances in acclaimed series like GCB, Longmire, and Bones, Gitter has brought characters to life with humor and soul.
Beyond the screen, she is a storyteller fueled by curiosity, compassion, and the conviction that life — like art — is a collaborative effort, one where everyone’s role matters. With a passion for the creative process and deep reverence for those who dare to try, Gitter sees the world through a simple belief: creation is participation.
ABOUT The KINN
The KINN is a membership network, accelerator, and collaborative workspace for conscious entrepreneurs, based in Venice, CA. Running tailored inner development and business accelerator programs for startups, providing executive coaching, accountability, and access to a top-tier LA-based community of entrepreneurs, creatives, intrapreneurs, and investors. If you're interested in learning more about KINN Membership, please visit http://thekinn.co/apply
Pilot
Pilot provides outsourced finance and operations support for startups, including bookkeeping, tax, CFO, and COO services. We help early-stage companies scale from Pre-Seed to Series C with accurate financials, operational discipline, and investor-ready insights.
ABOUT Nerdstage
Communication training and high-impact events giving tomorrow a louder voice. Nerdstage hosts the Demo Day event series & the Nerdstage Podcast.
If you're a builder turning hard problems into progress, you might be a fit for the Nerdstage Pitch Accelerator.
Who wants to go to Japan! 🇯🇵
KINN member Jeffrey Chernick partnered with Japan’s largest travel site to launch Kabuk.com — a free travel booking platform that offers:
A personal Japanese Concierge to plan your dream trip
Monthly payment installments instead of one lump sum
Free cancellation or rebooking within 7 days of your trip
Access to unique experiences not found online
Through its parent company, Kabuk has direct partnerships with over 4,000 hotels in Japan, offering up to 40% off your stay.
Sign up at Kabuk.com, book your discovery call, and use the code KINN to receive $200 in travel credits if booked by October 31, or $100 thereafter.