| How they describe themselves:
SmartHippo.com is the first ever website that allows
individuals to use the power of a community to save money when shopping for rates on
financial products and services. Many borrowers currently end up with higher mortgage
rates simply because they lack the necessary information or knowledge to negotiate the
best possible deal. Higher rates can mean the difference between being able to send one's
kids to college or not.
SmartHippo.com champions a consumer-friendly approach to
lending based on transparency and accountability. The company uses the power of online
communities to level the playing field and put the balance of power back in the hands of
consumers. Lenders can create a profile, engage in the conversation, and even post their
rates for free.
What they think makes them better: The transparency and empowerment made
possible by the SmartHippo platform is an important part of the solution to avoiding a
repeat of the mortgage crisis that is currently dragging down the economy. Other web
sites advertise bait and switch rates, or simply collect consumer's personal data in order to
sell it to the highest bidder. SmartHippo is the first truly transparent marketplace where
consumers can rank and review lenders and even use our patent pending technology to
compare their rates with rates that other consumers with a similar risk profile have
obtained.
Executives: George Favvas (Cofounder and CEO), Martin Hudon (Cofounder and VP
Operations)
Advisory Board Members: Lori Collins (former GM at LendingTree, SVP at Bank of
America, Marketing Director at AmEx), Jason White (GM Fox Interactive Audience
Network, former VP Online Marketing at Countrywide Bank, former Manager at
LowerMyBills.com), Bill Rice (VP Content at Mortgageloan.com, founder of Kaleidico,
ex-VP Home Equity at Quicken Loans), John Philip Green (CTO at LearnHub)
Partnerships: Kaleidico, Commission Junction, Mortgagebot
Contacts:
Biz Dev and Sales: Martin Hudon, (514) 667-1574, martin@smarthippo.com
Press: Kelly Rusk, Community Manager, (514) 907-1982, kelly@smarthippo.com |
