Gamechangers: Morty

It started with a realisation. A mortgage is the biggest transaction of any person’s life, and no one was helping buyers to shop around. It’s madness. So we set about building a platform that empowers the user – and gets them the best possible deal.

As consumers ourselves, we understand the pain and struggles that come with filling out a mortgage form. We want to take all of that away. Our site, Morty, helps consumers to make smarter decisions about their mortgage. Our fully automated platform allows users to compare and close loans from a network of lenders, as fast as possible. And the best thing is you never have to leave our platform. The consumer doesn’t have to talk to anybody except Morty.

The biggest challenge we face is the lack of focus in the industry on educating consumers about mortgages. Somewhat surprisingly, bankers don’t have to take a license exam to advise people on their mortgage – they may not even have a college degree. It’s time for people to understand the market and make informed decisions.

One of our highest points came recently when we helped a first-time buyer in Florida, just after Hurricane Irma. There had been a lot of tragedy, and the buyer was about to lose both their home and mortgage. It was a dire, desperate situation but we managed to sort everything and close a deal for him in record time. To know that you have come in and saved the day for somebody is a great feeling.

To become a successful entrepreneur, you need a combination of persistence, resilience and passion. You’ve got to be able to push through all the self-doubts, ignore the haters, and truly believe that what you’re working towards is unique and necessary. You need resilience to handle the turbulent nature of business. And finally: passion, because what is worth doing if you’re not passionate about it?

I decided to join the accelerator because I’d been in business my whole life, and knew absolutely nothing about venture capital. We chose Barclays because we were in awe at the fantastic resources they offer, and we knew there was so much that we could learn from them. We’ve benefited so much, with Barclays providing us with first class mentorship and guidance. Whenever we’ve needed them, they’ve been there.