Left to proper: Julian Hebron, Jonathan Kunkle, John Wines, Will Adams
Artificial intelligence and borrower retention took middle stage as 20 tech corporations competed for prime honors within the Innovation Challenge at Digital Mortgage 2025.
New homeownership portals, voice brokers and lead technology instruments all might discover their approach onto mortgage expertise stacks if they don’t seem to be already there.
The annual contest is not only a showcase, it is a proving floor, with trade veterans judging entrants on each polish and market impression.
Serving as judges have been Julian Hebron, founding father of The Basis Point; Jonathan Kunkle, vp, gross sales engagement — West for Freddie Mac; and John Wines, chief technique officer at Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group. Overseeing the proceedings was Will Adams, senior vp, head of gross sales at Lendingtree, sponsor of the Innovation Challenge and supplier of a $10,000 grand prize awarded to the winner.
Scroll forward to see the digital instruments that caught the judges’ consideration — together with the successful entry — together with the remainder of the standout opponents.
