In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with Diane Yu, co-founder and CEO of TidalWave, to explore how her company is revolutionizing mortgage origination through AI-powered technology.

Diane shares her journey from engineering roles at major tech firms like DoubleClick and Google to founding Freewheel, which was acquired by Comcast, and ultimately transitioning into fintech with Better Mortgage before launching TidalWave. The discussion highlights how TidalWave addresses longstanding inefficiencies in mortgage processing by enabling real-time borrower interaction and customizable lending criteria via AI, significantly improving both lender and borrower experiences.

Diane also delves into her strategic approach to building a scalable, configurable platform tailored for diverse lenders, the importance of combining insider industry knowledge with fresh perspectives, and the role of company culture in startup success.

The conversation further covers lessons learned from acquisitions, the evolving impact of large language models on financial services, and the mindset entrepreneurs should adopt to embrace AI as an empowering tool. Listeners gain a comprehensive view of how innovation, strategic execution, and continuous learning underpin TidalWave’s rapid growth and its mission to transform the mortgage industry.

Learn more about tidalwave's work at: https://www.tidalwave.ai/

Connect with Diane Yu on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianeyu/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com