Join us on the Sports Philanthropy Podcast as host Roy Kessel sits down with Jonathan Reisman, founder of Rebuild:LA. From his roots in architectural design and real estate to pioneering immersive technologies with his award-winning platform Modwell, Jonathan shares how his vision for innovation and resilience inspired the creation of Rebuild:LA. He reveals how this initiative is helping Los Angeles communities recover from devastating wildfires by leveraging digital tools, partnerships, and community engagement. Jonathan also highlights his broader mission to use XR, AI, and design thinking to reimagine how neighborhoods rebuild, connect, and prepare for the future.
Jonathan Reisman
Jonathan Reisman is a design thinker and entrepreneur recognized for pioneering immersive technologies that redefine customer engagement. He is the inventor of Modwell, a proptech solution created to serve digital-native customers by allowing them to visualize and immerse themselves in design experiences without needing technical expertise. Since its launch in 2020, Modwell has been honored by industry leaders, earning spots in startup accelerator programs at Google, Nvidia, and Moderne Ventures, and in 2023 it was named one of the Top 100 companies in immersive 3D design technology by The Metaverse Spectrum.
Reisman’s vision for Modwell grew from his early career in architectural design and real estate, where he worked on high-profile developments such as Quay Towers in Brooklyn and the Four Seasons in Kayo Largo, Puerto Rico. He identified the gap between what buyers imagined and what they could actually see, inspiring him to create an immersive platform that bridges this divide. Through partnerships with Christie’s International, Harrison Street, and even retail giants like Target, he expanded Modwell’s applications into shoppable 3D prototypes and collaborative digital design tools, while also coauthoring a provisional patent to secure the platform’s intellectual property and future potential in XR and spatial computing.
Beyond product innovation, Reisman is a sought-after speaker and mentor, frequently invited to share his expertise on AI, extended reality, and immersive technologies at leading real estate conferences and academic institutions such as NYU’s Steinhardt School. He also contributes as a judge for Syracuse University’s Blackstone LaunchPad program, guiding student and alumni ventures. His work reflects a commitment not only to advancing cutting-edge technologies but also to enabling the next generation of entrepreneurs and creators to imagine and build for the future.
RebuildLA
Rebuild:LA is an ambitious resilience initiative born from the urgent need to support communities in Los Angeles devastated by wildfires. Rather than simply providing aid, Rebuild:LA envisions itself as a central hub — a place where data, resources, and relational networks converge — to help neighborhoods imagine, design, and implement recovery in ways that are both equitable and forward-looking.
At its heart, Rebuild:LA is powered by immersive technology, community engagement, and systems thinking. Its founder, Jonathan Reisman, comes from a background in architecture, real estate, and design innovation, and he brings to this work the mindset of a designer-entrepreneur. The project builds on his earlier venture, Modwell, which sought to democratize 3D visualization for consumers. With Rebuild:LA, that same ethos is redirected toward repair, reconstruction, and community empowerment.
What makes Rebuild:LA especially compelling is its multi-layered approach: it’s not just about rebuilding homes, but also rebuilding trust, capacity, and connection. It seeks to connect public, private, and civic actors; to give neighbors tools to co-design their futures; and to leverage technology in ways that don’t replace people, but amplify their voices. In doing so, it offers a model for how recovery from disaster can be an act of transformation, not merely restoration.
0:04 – Introduction of Jonathan Reisman: Roy Kessel welcomes Jonathan Reisman, founder of Rebuild:LA, to discuss wildfire recovery and community resilience.
0:48 – Early sports roots: Jonathan describes growing up active in multiple sports, with camaraderie, competition, and structure drawing him in.
1:45 – Why tennis and wrestling: He chose wrestling for conditioning and excelled naturally at tennis—eventually teaching it as a youth counselor.
2:25 – College choice over college sports: A demanding dual track in architecture and real estate development (18 credits/semester) led him to forgo collegiate athletics.
3:36 – From pandemic pivot to purpose: During COVID, he launched Modwell to merge home-buying with design; after the LA fires, he repurposed that tech to help families rebuild.
5:34 – Tech differentiators behind Modwell: He outlines digital twins, 3D modeling, and AI layered onto MLS listings—built in collaboration with partners like Nvidia and Google.
7:28 – Deciding to move to LA: Watching the crisis from New York—and with family in Culver City—he relocated in late February to help on the ground.
8:33 – The scale and complexity of recovery: With ~10,000+ homeowners affected and vast burn zones, he stresses the dual need: city-level master planning and homeowner-level rebuilding.
13:31 – What Rebuild:LA offers: A two-path platform—(1) “I’m affected” with an AI-guided Home Vault (insurance, architects, contractors, costs, timelines) and (2) “I’m preparing,” for at-risk residents to be ready before disasters.
16:20 – How to help & the road to LA28: He calls for visibility and support for survivors, community sports initiatives for impacted kids, and collaborative planning (community centers, fields, tracks) as LA builds toward the 2028 Olympics—closing with lighter chat on racket sports (tennis, paddle, pickleball) before the sign-off at 25:05.
