​How might LA’s recovery from the January fires lay a foundation for a more resilient Los Angeles (and beyond)?  

​Event Summary

​Join SidePorch for Resilience & Rebuilding Day, a specialized LA Climate Week event hosted at Crosscut Ventures. 

​This half-day convening will gather institutional investors, real estate developers/builders, financiers, civic sector and philanthropists, policy-makers, and resiliency solution founders to explore how frontier investing, financial innovation, policy alignment, and advanced tech and infrastructure solutions can drive resilience and smarter recovery. We'll dig into what's working, what's missing, and where the biggest opportunities lie.

​The event will include:

• ​Two Expert Panel Sessions

• ​"State of Play" updates from LA Fire recovery insiders

• ​Stories of resiliency by experts and local community

• ​Coffee and Lunch

• ​Afternoon reception following program (2:30 - 4:00)

​Detailed Agenda & Participants

​Content from 10:00 am - 2:30 pm

​Afternoon Reception from 2:30 pm - 4 pm

​Panel #1: “Rebuilding & Recovery from LA Fires”

​Moderated by Allan Marks, a global leader in project and infrastructure finance, this panel brings together voices from real estate development and building, financial services/insurance, and policy experts to unpack how updated risk models, permitting reform, and public-private partnerships are redefining how we rebuild. Panelists include:

• ​Abby Ross, Founder and CEO, The Resiliency Company,

• ​Becky Feldman, Chief of Staff, US Green Building Council-CA

• ​Drew Planting, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, GPI Companies

• ​Ryan Heeter, SVP & West Division Leader, Gilbane Development

• ​Nuin-Tara Kay, Executive Director of Programs, CalForward

• ​Bradley Sawyer, SVP & Risk Advisory Leader, Marsh

​Panel #2: "Investing in Solutions for Resilience"

​Moderated by start-up and growth advisor Iván Markman, this session explores how early-stage capital and tech are reshaping disaster response. Hear from early and growth stage investors as well as tech and solution founders. on what they're backing–from fire-resilient housing to advanced building materials–and how these solutions are designed to meet the moment. Panelists include:

• ​Jake Harris, Principal, DBL Partners

• ​Caie Kelley, Partner, Lowercarbon Capital

• ​Shaun Abrahamson, Managing Partner, Third Sphere

• ​Sasha Jokic, Founder & CEO, Cosmic Buildings

• ​Sam Ruben, Co-Founder & Chief Biz Officer, Hywatts

​"State of Play" LA Recovery Insider Updates:

• ​Najla Kayyem, Executive Director, Steadfast LA

• ​Nurit Katz, Chief Sustainability Officer, UCLA, LADWP Commissioner

• ​Mary Leslie, President, Los Angeles Business Council

​Storytellers of Resiliency

• ​Sara Kazemian, PhD, Director of Analytics, Northwind Climate

• ​Dr. Dan Dworkis, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Mission Critical Institute

​SidePorch is proud to organize this event as part of its ongoing work at the intersection of climate adaptation, technology, and policy.

​Who Should Attend?:

​Key profiles and community members invested in LA's rebuilding after the devastating January fires: climate tech venture founders/execs, climate capital investors, infrastructure developers and project teams, community groups, residents, etc.

​By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information with the LA Climate Week Organizers.