H5E Founders with Ryan Wang (Eigen AI $643M exit)
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 12:00 PM PST – 1:30 PM PST
The KINN, 150 Horizon Ave, Venice, CA 90291, USA
Hosted by The KINN
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 Ryan Wang, co-founder and CEO of Eigen AI, the inference and model optimization company Nebius agreed to acquire for approximately $643 million. Ryan came out of MIT's HAN Lab, where he earned his PhD and led SpAtten, the sparse attention work that became one of the most-cited computer architecture papers of the decade. At Eigen, he and his co-founders built a full-stack optimization layer that makes the biggest open-source AI models faster and cheaper to run in production. Together, we'll explore how a researcher turns lab work into a company, what it takes to build in the fastest-moving market in tech, and what every founder needs to know about where AI is heading next. 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 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: https://www.amazon.com/High-Five-Energy-Different-Founder/dp/B0FCD9FVDK/ref=tmmpapswatch0 November 4th, 2026 About: Ryan (Hanrui) Wang Ryan (Hanrui) Wang is the co-founder and CEO of Eigen AI, a leading AI inference and model optimization company acquired by Nebius for approximately $643 million. He earned his PhD at MIT, advised by Professor Song Han, with research focused on efficient AI computing. At MIT's HAN Lab he led SpAtten, a landmark sparse attention architecture. Eigen AI brings full-stack optimization across the model lifecycle, from post-training and fine-tuning to production inference for the major open-source models, and now powers Nebius Token Factory. 🔗 LINKEDIN 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 club and beautiful co-work space for conscious entrepreneurs, based in Venice, CA. Elevate your impact with access to curated events, personalized educational programming, and a dynamic and mission-driven community. Apply and find out more at www.thekinn.co. Instagram @thekinn.co Parking We recommend taking a rideshare to The KINN. If you prefer to drive, please see the parking map below for nearby options. Water Provided by Alive Water Sourced from Opal Springs, a pristine volcanic aquifer in Oregon, this water is naturally alkaline, mineral-rich, and bottled in sacred glass to preserve its purity. Experience it the way nature intended. Sign up at https://alivewaters.com/KINN and use code KINN for 25% off. By attending this event, I give Horizon House LLC, its representatives, and the event photographer permission to use, publish, broadcast, share, and display any photographs, video, or audio recordings of me captured during KINN or Horizon Studio activities. These materials may be used with or without identifying me by name. I waive any right to compensation and any claims for damages arising from their use.