Friday Harbor raises $6M to help community mortgage lenders match the speed and efficiency of industry giants
SEATTLE, Wash., April 15, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Friday Harbor, an AI-powered platform that helps loan officers assemble complete and compliant loan files in real time, today announced the completion of a $6 million seed round. The round was led by Abstract Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture firm with $1.5 billion in assets under management and a track record of backing breakout companies including Rippling, xAI, Hebbia, Brigit and Hippo (NYSE: HIPO) and Mischief, an early-stage VC fund co-founded by Plaid CEO Zach Perret.
Also participating in the round were Wischoff Ventures, a VC firm founded by Blend (NYSE: BLND) alum Nichole Wischoff; and the AI2 Incubator, a technical incubator born from the Allen Institute for AI (AI2).
With Friday Harbor's platform, lenders of all sizes can leverage AI to read and interpret borrower documents, generate a borrower-specific needs list, underwrite files and flag potential conditions—all in real time. Each flagged issue includes a suggested resolution, enabling loan officers to take action with a single click. By compressing what typically takes weeks of back-and-forth into just minutes, Friday Harbor reduces downstream friction and accelerates time to close.
Friday Harbor was founded with a mission to make advanced AI tools accessible to all lenders—not just those with the biggest budgets. By replacing outdated, manual workflows and automating key underwriting steps, the platform empowers banks, credit unions and independent mortgage banks (IMBs) to match—or even surpass—the speed, cost-efficiency and borrower experience of mega-lenders like Rocket Companies and United Wholesale Mortgage, which together accounted for one-fifth of all IMB originations in 2024, according to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data.
'I've always believed AI could be the great equalizer in mortgage lending,' said Friday Harbor CEO and Co-founder Theo Ellis. 'Thousands of lenders deserve access to the same tools as the mega-lenders—and in many cases, they're now doing things the biggest players can't. That's what happens when you give lenders technology built by people who truly understand both AI and mortgage.'
Early adopters of Friday Harbor confirm the system's ability to address costly 'stare and compare' tasks and mitigate errors that slow loan production:
Friday Harbor was founded by Ellis and Jesse Collins (CTO) and launched in 2024 with support from the AI2 Incubator and CoFound Partners. Ellis was previously head of U.S. growth and an early employee at machine learning fintech Pagaya Technologies (NASDAQ: PGY), where he helped launch multiple new consumer credit verticals for the company. Collins previously held senior engineering roles at leading fintech companies including Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) and Zillow (NASDAQ: Z), where he specialized in applying artificial intelligence to fraud detection and underwriting systems.
The $6M seed round will support the growth of Friday Harbor's engineering team and support integrations with leading mortgage LOS and point-of-sale platforms—paving the way for more lenders to automate file setup, accelerate underwriting and compete directly with the largest lenders in the country.
About Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor is an AI-powered platform that helps loan officers assemble complete and compliant loan files in real time. The company combines deep fintech expertise with cutting-edge artificial intelligence to remove complexity, slash origination costs and deliver a better borrower experience. For more information, visit https://fridayharbor.ai/.
Tags: #mortgagetech #AI #fintech #seedfunding #venturecapital
LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/25-0415-s2p-fridayharbor-300dpi.jpg
NEWS SOURCE: Friday Harbor
###
MEDIA ONLY CONTACT:
(not for publication online or in print)
Leslie W. Colley
Depth for Friday Harbor
[email protected]
(678) 622-6229
###
Keywords: Mortgage, Friday Harbor Inc, AI-powered platform that helps loan officers, SEATTLE, Wash.
This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Friday Harbor) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P125538 APNF0325A
To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/friday-harbor-raises-6m-to-help-community-mortgage-lenders-match-the-speed-and-efficiency-of-industry-giants/
© 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA.
RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT.
Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
ELFI study shows college meal plans to be a significant portion of college costs
Popular cost-cutting advice to skip meal plans may not be feasible for most students KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study by student loan lender ELFI surveyed current meal plan pricing at 150 colleges and universities nationwide, concluding that 98% of surveyed institutions require freshmen to purchase meal plans. This makes a common cost-cutting strategy – skipping meal plans in favor of home-cooked meals – impractical for many students. Meal plans can present a significant expense among college-related costs. ELFI found that current plans average $5,600 per academic year, totaling anywhere from $12,000 to $44,000 over four years. Private school meal plans cost 22% more than public school plans on average. The study also found that college meal plans are considerably more expensive than the standard cost of meals, based on the average range of nutritious, home-prepared food plans measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for adults ages 19 to 50. On average, student meal plans were 39-49% more expensive than USDA food plans, depending on the sex of the student. Considering this cost amid recent inflation trends, many financial experts recommend that students prepare their own meals to save money. However, meal plans are typically required for students living on campus, especially for freshmen. As a result, students and families may be budgeting based on outdated or impractical advice and could be blindsided by the true cost of attendance. "Borrowers come to us with concerns about how to maximize long-term savings while financing their college education," said Ivan Marcinko, ELFI senior vice president and director of operations. "We hope that this study will help families understand that some college costs cannot be mitigated and encourage them to explore financing pathways that accommodate the high cost of college, including meal plans." College costs are top of mind for many student loan borrowers considering the recently signed "One Bill Big Beautiful Bill" Act, which included various reforms aimed at financial aid and student loan repayment. As grant limits, loan caps and other higher education lending reforms go into effect, students and families may need to make critical decisions about meeting the cost of college with a combination of federal aid, institutional assistance and private lending. For some students, institutional meal plan assistance programs, waivers or exceptions may be available. ELFI recommends that students contact their college or university to learn more about their options. ELFI is a division of Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank and offers nationwide student loans. Since launching in 2015, ELFI has offered a range of student loan and refinancing products and services backed by an award-winning team of student loan advisors who work one-to-one with borrowers through the application process from start to finish. About Education Loan Finance (ELFI) ELFI is a nationwide student loan provider and refinance program offered by Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank. Since its launch in 2015, ELFI has assisted borrowers with student loan refinancing as well as with undergraduate, graduate and parent private student loans. ELFI makes financing your future simple by offering easy payment options, affordable rates, and flexible terms in an application process that is transparent and secure. Learn more at Media Contact Mary Seward SouthEast Bank Marketing Manager mseward@ 865-352-1262 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ELFI
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Vietnam Block B gas project advances with FSO contract
PTSC South East Asia (PTSC SEA), a joint venture (JV) between PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) and Yinson Production, has signed a lease and operate contract for a new floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit, set to bolster the Vietnam Block B gas project offshore. The contract, awarded by the Phu Quoc Petroleum Operating Company (PQPOC), is seen as a critical step for Vietnam's energy sector, enhancing the country's infrastructure. PQPOC, established by Vietnam National Industry – Energy Group (Petrovietnam), is responsible for the operation of the Vietnam Block B gas project, which includes Blocks B&48/95 and 52/97 in the south-west offshore region of Vietnam. The project, with an annual supply of 5.07 billion standard cubic metres of gas, aims to meet the growing energy needs of the south-west part of the country and provide economic benefits to the government, Petrovietnam and investors. Integral to the project's infrastructure, the new FSO will have a storage capacity of up to 350,000 barrels of condensate and is designed to be stationed for 25 years without the need for dry-docking. The turret-moored, double-hull FSO will be installed at a water depth of 80m. The firm period of the contract spans 14 years, with a potential extension of nine more years, bringing the total value to approximately $600m (VND15.72trn). The Vietnam Block B gas project's FSO is expected to achieve first condensate by the third quarter of 2027. Yinson CEO Flemming Guiducci Grønnegaard said: 'This contract reflects our strong partnership with PTSC and our long-standing commitment to Vietnam's offshore energy sector. 'The Block B FSO builds on our successful track record in the region and highlights our ability to deliver high-quality offshore assets that meet the specific needs of our clients. We are proud to support Vietnam's efforts to enhance energy security and are confident that this project will deliver long-term value for all stakeholders.' This new deal follows a previous award in November last year to PTSC AP, another JV between Yinson Production and PTSC, for the provision, charter, operation and maintenance of an FSO for Murphy Oil's Lac Da Vang project. Earlier this year, Yinson Production Offshore Holdings, a newly formed UK-based holding company of Yinson Production, signed a definitive agreement with a group of international investment firms. This agreement involves the issuance of $1bn ($749.89bn) in redeemable convertible preferred shares, along with 10% warrants, based on a post-money valuation of $3.7bn. "Vietnam Block B gas project advances with FSO contract" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ford CEO Found Young People Didn't Want to Work There Because $17 Wages Left Them 'So Stressed' - Then He Made An Expensive Change 'The Country Needs'
Turns out, a $17-an-hour paycheck doesn't go as far as it used to—especially if you're young, exhausted, and juggling two jobs just to survive. Ford (NYSE:F) CEO Jim Farley heard this loud and clear from his own factory floors. And instead of shrugging it off or blaming "kids these days," he made a move that echoed the bold playbook of Henry Ford himself—one that he says America desperately needs more of. In a June interview at the Aspen Ideas Festival with Walter Isaacson—the renowned biographer best known for his books on Steve Jobs, Leonardo da Vinci, and Elon Musk—Farley peeled back the curtain on what younger workers were really telling him about life on a $17 wage. Don't Miss: 7,000+ investors have joined Timeplast's mission to eliminate microplastics—now it's your turn to $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. "The older workers who'd been at the company said, 'None of the young people want to work here. Jim, you pay $17 an hour, and they are so stressed,'" Farley recalled. "They've got to work at Amazon for eight hours, then they come over to Ford for seven hours, and then they sleep for three or four hours—and then they go back. And they're barely getting by." Rather than issue a tone-deaf memo or wait for another generation to settle for less, Farley made a decisive, expensive change: he converted every temporary worker into a full-time employee. "It wasn't easy to do," he admitted. "It was expensive. But I think that's the kind of changes we need to make in our country." Farley's move isn't just about better paychecks—it's about reviving an old-school idea that once turned Ford into a powerhouse: when you pay workers well, they can afford the products they help build. Trending: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can Quoting the legendary Henry Ford, Farley said, "'I'm doing this because I want my factory worker to buy my cars. If they make enough money, they'll buy my own product.'" Then he added, "It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, in a way." In 1914, Henry Ford famously raised factory wages to $5 a day—nearly double the going rate. It wasn't a random act of generosity. It was a smart bet that higher wages would lead to a more stable, productive workforce and—bonus—more people who could afford to drive off in a Model T. According to Farley, it worked then, and it can work now. He also pointed to deeper structural issues. For Farley, the wage issue is just one layer of a bigger challenge: the U.S. hasn't kept up in preparing young people for careers in skilled trades. "Our governments have to get really serious about investing in trade schools and skilled trades," Farley said. "You go to Germany—every one of our factory workers has an apprentice starting in junior high school. Every one of those jobs has a person behind it for eight years that is trained."Farley's big bet may not please Wall Street, but it's not aimed at them. "We decided as a company that a cooler problem than full autonomy in an urban setting was high-speed, eyes-off driving on highways—push a button, read a book," he told Isaacson, in reference to how Ford picks its battles. When it comes to labor, he's taking that same eyes-on-the-road approach—focusing on people, not just profits. And while turning temps into full-timers might not boost short-term stock prices, Farley's betting on a longer game: one where the people building America's cars can actually afford to drive them. Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? FORD MOTOR (F): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Ford CEO Found Young People Didn't Want to Work There Because $17 Wages Left Them 'So Stressed' - Then He Made An Expensive Change 'The Country Needs' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
