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Tidalwave, a New York-based agentic AI mortgage technology startup, announced on July 21, 2025, the appointment of John Stephenson as Head of National Sales and Frank Pastirchak as Account Executive, building on the earlier addition of Chris McLendon as Chief Revenue Officer. Integrated with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Tidalwave’s AI-powered SOLO™ platform automates up to 70% of manual mortgage tasks, driving efficiency through partnerships with ICE Mortgage Technology, First Colony Mortgage, and Mortgage Solutions.
John Stephenson, ex-ICE Mortgage Technology, joins as Head of National Sales.
Frank Pastirchak, ex-nCino and Reggora, appointed Account Executive.
Follows Chris McLendon’s appointment as CRO in February 2025.
Partnerships with ICE, First Colony Mortgage, and Mortgage Solutions announced in May 2025.
SOLO™ automates 70% of tasks, integrates with Fannie Mae’s DU® and Freddie Mac’s LPA®.
Reduces loan processing from weeks to days, cutting costs by $1,500 per loan.
Tidalwave’s latest executive appointments signal its rapid momentum in reshaping mortgage technology. John Stephenson, formerly a relationship manager and sales executive at ICE Mortgage Technology, brings expertise in driving lender adoption at scale. Frank Pastirchak, with experience at nCino, Reggora, and SimpleNexus (acquired by nCino in 2022), enhances Tidalwave’s go-to-market strategy with his SaaS and mortgage automation background. These hires follow Chris McLendon’s appointment as Chief Revenue Officer in February 2025, a former ICE executive with over 25 years of industry experience, including a decade at ICE and five years at Black Knight. “Attracting mortgage industry veterans like John, Frank, and Chris demonstrates the strength of our vision and the progress we are making,” said Diane Yu, CEO of Tidalwave.
Tidalwave’s SOLO™ platform leverages agentic AI to streamline mortgage processes, reducing the average 45-day processing time and $11,000 origination cost per loan. “By automating operations, improving compliance, and delivering a faster mortgage experience, Tidalwave empowers lenders to scale effectively while significantly enhancing their operational efficiency and profitability,” said Stephenson. “After many years at established mortgage technology firms, I am excited to join a company that is genuinely innovating. Tidalwave is setting a new standard for what’s possible in mortgage technology.” Pastirchak added, “Once I saw Tidalwave’s AI in action, I knew this was the real deal. Tidalwave’s SOLO™ transforms tasks that previously took days—like letters of explanation or document collection—into processes completed in minutes, shrinking overall loan processing times from weeks to days.”
Tidalwave’s partnerships with ICE Mortgage Technology, announced in March 2025, integrate its SOLO™ platform with the Encompass Partner Connect API, enabling access to most U.S. mortgage lenders. Additional partnerships with First Colony Mortgage and Mortgage Solutions, announced in May 2025, embed Tidalwave’s AI-powered Point of Sale (POS+) system, automating tasks like document validation and compliance checks. Integrations with Fannie Mae’s Desktop Underwriter® (DU®) and Freddie Mac’s Loan Product Advisor® (LPA®) enable instant pre-approvals, while partnerships with Plaid, Argyle, and Truv streamline income, employment, and asset verification. These efforts align with Freddie Mac’s findings that digital tools can cut origination costs by $1,500, or 14%.
The mortgage industry faces inefficiencies, with average files spanning 500 pages and requiring extensive human intervention. Tidalwave’s AI addresses these challenges, reducing errors and delays while supporting multilingual capabilities, such as Spanish-language integration for 23% of Hispanic borrowers facing language barriers. With a $10.6 trillion U.S. mortgage market, Tidalwave competes with platforms like ICE’s Encompass and nCino’s SimpleNexus, but its AI-first approach, backed by co-founder Diane Yu’s experience at Better.com and FreeWheel, sets it apart. Recent integrations with Truv and a growing customer base, including Primary Residential Mortgage, highlight Tidalwave’s traction.
Tidalwave’s strategic hires and partnerships position it as a leader in AI-driven mortgage innovation. By leveraging industry expertise from Stephenson, Pastirchak, and McLendon, and integrating with key platforms, Tidalwave is redefining efficiency and accessibility in mortgage lending, delivering transformative value to lenders and borrowers alike.
Tidalwave is an agentic AI company solving critical inefficiencies in the mortgage process. Our platform is engineered to make homeownership faster, more affordable, and more accessible for all parties by replacing outdated systems with intelligent automation and direct integrations with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Tidalwave also provides AI-powered guidance to help Spanish-speaking borrowers navigate the complex loan process, offering instant support and clarification on mortgage terminology and requirements.
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