Diane Yu is the chief executive officer and co-founder of TidalWave, an AI-powered mortgage automation platform aiming to improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase access across the housing economy. A seasoned technology entrepreneur, Yu previously co-founded FreeWheel, which was acquired by Comcast for $400 million. Her experience building scalable tech infrastructure led her to the mortgage industry, where she saw an opportunity to streamline a process that often includes 500-page loan files and 45-day closing timelines.
At TidalWave, Yu led the development of integrations with key players such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Argyle and Plaid. These connections have enabled real-time income and asset verification, significantly reducing loan processing times — by up to 67% — and decreasing manual workloads for lending teams. Lenders using TidalWave report an average of $1,500 in savings per loan file, aligning with broader industry benchmarks.
In 2025, Yu launched a Spanish-language AI platform to improve accessibility for Hispanic borrowers. The tool supports real-time mortgage applications for over 10 million limited English proficiency households, addressing language barriers that contribute to higher denial and abandonment rates. This innovation aligns with TidalWave’s goal of expanding access to homeownership while tapping into a $1.7 trillion market segment.
Yu has secured partnerships with lenders such as First Colony Mortgage and Mortgage Solutions, helping to automate pre-approvals, income checks and compliance. Under her leadership, TidalWave is positioned to deliver an estimated $1.5 billion in industry-wide cost savings over the next five years, contributing to broader improvements in lender efficiency and consumer access.
Name:
Diane Yu
Title:
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder
Company Name:
TidalWave
