Modative

What Modative does

Modative is a privately held, Los Angeles-based integrated architecture and construction firm founded in 2006 by Christian Návar and Derek Leavitt, both USC School of Architecture alumni. The company operates through three divisions: Modative (architecture, founded 2006), Modative Build (licensed general contractor, founded 2011), and Modative Development (real estate development, founded 2014), with an additional ADU-focused operating unit called Mod EV. The firm specializes in single-family residential, multi-unit residential, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and Small Lot Subdivision projects under Los Angeles' Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance, with a track record of 300+ small lot homes created since founding.

The company's core product portfolio includes pre-designed ADU models (Alpha, Beta, Delta), standardized garage conversion ADUs starting at $129,900, and custom residential architecture. Underlying technology includes BIMx 3D architectural visualization for client communication and Procore cloud-based construction management software for project organization—tools typically deployed by large firms but applied here at small-firm scale. Modative uses integrated project delivery, combining architecture and self-performed construction under one roof to reduce coordination friction between designer and builder, a model uncommon among small architecture practices.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees for architecture and construction, with project values ranging from approximately $129,900 (garage conversion ADU) to over $3.2M (multi-duplex subdivisions). Customer acquisition is sales-led, relying on content marketing (blog, downloadable guides, speaking engagements at USC, ULI, AIA), earned media (LA Times, Architectural Record, New York Times), and direct website/phone inquiries. Customer segments are split between individual homeowners seeking ADUs or custom homes (SMB/consumer) and mid-market real estate developers undertaking Small Lot Subdivision projects. The firm is geographically constrained to West Los Angeles and operates without external institutional investment under founder control.

Name

Modative

Legal name

Modative, Inc.

Website

https://modative.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Modative is a Los Angeles-based integrated design/build firm specializing in residential architecture, ADUs, and Small Lot Subdivision projects for homeowners and mid-market developers, operating since 2006 under founders Christian Návar and Derek Leavitt.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Construction Services

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (2361), Residential Building Construction (23611), New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)

Keywords

• Architecture services
• ADU design build
• Small lot subdivision
• General contractor services
• Residential construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Culver City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Fees for architectural design services including schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction observation phases. The firm handles the complete design process from concept through construction completion.
2. Construction Services: General contractor services for building projects. Modative Build handles all aspects of construction from preconstruction through project completion.
3. ADU Design/Build Services: One-stop-shop services for Accessory Dwelling Units including architecture, permitting, and construction. Handles ground-up ADUs and garage conversions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Modative is a Los Angeles-based integrated design/build firm providing architecture and general contracting services. Its core offerings include architecture and construction for single-family homes, Accessory Dwelling Units (pre-designed Alpha, Beta, Delta models and garage conversions), and Small Lot Subdivision projects under one roof, delivered using BIMx 3D visualization and Procore construction management.

Product overview

Modative is a Los Angeles-based modern design/build firm offering architecture and construction services through two divisions: Modative (architecture firm, founded 2006) and Modative Build (general contractor). Their core offerings include architecture and integrated project delivery for single-family residential, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs/granny flats), and Small Lot Subdivision projects. ADU offerings include pre-designed models (Alpha, Beta, Delta) and Garage Conversions. Small Lot Subdivision services help developers create separate-title homes under LA's ordinance. Free educational resources include ADU Guide and Architecture Process Guide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architecture practice providing integrated project delivery for single-family residential, multi-unit residential, and commercial projects in Los Angeles, covering schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction observation.
• Modative Build (General Contractor) Licensed general contractor division of Modative that self-performs construction of modern single-family homes, ADUs, and Small Lot Subdivision projects using an integrated project delivery method with BIMx and Procore.
• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Design/Build One-stop-shop design/build services for Accessory Dwelling Units in Los Angeles, including pre-designed models (Alpha, Beta, Delta) and semi-custom options, handling architecture, engineering, permitting, construction, and project management.
• Garage Conversion ADU Predesigned 365 sq. ft. studio apartment conversion of existing garages into ADUs, featuring full-size kitchen, bath with shower/tub combo, in-unit laundry, and outdoor patio. Includes architecture, engineering, permit processing, construction, and project management.
• Small Lot Subdivision Design/Build Specialized design, entitlement, and build services for Los Angeles Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance projects, creating separate-title homes on subdivided lots for homeowners and developers.
• Construction Project Management Preconstruction services, budget and schedule management, technology/software integration (Procore, BIMx), and daily construction logging for residential and multi-unit projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Anticipated net return of $1,622/month or ~$20,000/year for ADU Alpha Model in West Los Angeles
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• United DwellingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2019Partnership with United Dwelling to provide high-quality ADU garage conversions across Los Angeles. Modative designs and constructs standardized garage conversion units while United Dwelling handles land lease arrangements with homeowners, tenant placement, and ongoing property management. Governor Newsom visited one of their joint ADU projects in October 2019. New York Times featured the partnership as a solution to California's housing crisis.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Standard Architecture: Los Angeles-based architecture firm with comparable modern residential and multifamily portfolio; competes for the same LA homeowner/developer design commissions that anchor Modative's architecture practice.
• Marmol Radziner: LA design-build firm with integrated architecture and construction on residential projects; comparable integrated delivery model to Modative but at the luxury end of the same LA modern residential market.

Emerging players

• Mighty Buildings: 3D-printed prefab ADU and backyard home company operating in California; competes for the same ADU demand that drives Modative's pre-designed models, especially on speed-to-install and all-in pricing.
• Kasita: Tech-forward prefab ADU/small home company; partial overlap with Modative's compact-footprint ADU philosophy and pursues adjacent urban infill and accessory dwelling use cases.

Direct peers

• Cover: California-based prefab ADU company targeting the same homeowner customer with standardized backyard units; competes with Modative's pre-designed ADU and Garage Conversion models on speed and pricing.
• Abodu: Prefab ADU builder serving California homeowners with factory-built units; overlaps directly with Modative's garage conversions and ground-up ADU models as an alternative delivery model for the same buyer.
• Maxable Space: California ADU-focused design and permitting firm; directly comparable to Modative's ADU design service line and serves the same homeowner buyer navigating LA and statewide ADU regulations.
• Plant Prefab: Prefab construction company producing custom single-family and ADU units; targets the same California residential customer with an industrialized delivery model that competes for project pipeline against Modative Build.

Broad incumbents

• Build Group: California general contractor working on residential, multifamily and select commercial projects; comparable to Modative Build's GC services but at a larger scale and broader project mix.

Others

• United Dwelling: ADU landlord partner that wraps garage conversion construction with land lease, tenant placement, and property management; sits adjacent to Modative as both collaborator (since 2019) and a potential competitive ADU channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/pub/christian-navar/9/300/162
• Instagraminstagram.com/architectderek
• Xx.com/modative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Modative