Startup Cafe: How I Went from Tech to Film to Food (and What I Learned Along the Way)
☕️Startup Cafe: How I Went from Tech to Film to Food (and What I Learned Along the Way)
Agenda
8:45 - 9:30 am • Coffee and Socialize
9:30- 11:00 am • Talk and Presentation
March 18th, 2026
Jacob Pechenik
Jacob Pechenik is a serial entrepreneur and operator driven by curiosity, reinvention, and a deep desire to challenge industry norms. With a BS in Chemical Engineering from MIT, Jacob began his career building early technology platforms — from TechTrader, a B2B supply chain marketplace, to YellowJacket Software, a peer-to-peer derivatives trading platform serving energy, weather, and agricultural markets.
Unbound by a single sector, he next explored creative storytelling as founder of Venture Forth, a film finance and production company focused on high-quality, impact-driven work. Along the way, he discovered that the same principles that drive innovation — humility, curiosity, and willingness to start from scratch — could reshape how we think about fundamental systems like food.
In 2017, Jacob co-founded The Farm Project, a Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to transforming the food system, and Lettuce Grow, a consumer platform empowering people to grow healthy food at home.
His work today sits at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and everyday life — helping families reconnect with food, improve health, and reimagine what a resilient food future can look like.
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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
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