Former Rocket execs to offer broker platform, work with UWM

Two former executives who left Rocket earlier this year are starting a company with an "all-in-one" technology platform that United Wholesale Mortgage is supporting.

United Wholesale Mortgage and the CEO of the new venture, Dan Sogorka, confirmed earlier HousingWire reports about plans for the new firm.

Mike Fawaz is the founder of the new company, which is called Origna8. Sogorka also has been named executive chairman for Conrad, a company that offers an artificial intelligence-driven network for homeowners and professionals who serve them.

Origna8's new automation will offer "access to AI and lead sources not offered anywhere else," said Sogorka, who previously served in CEO roles at two mortgage technology firms, Sagent and CloudVirga. 

The new company he's heading is currently undergoing user testing with an estimated setup time for new customers that is a matter of weeks.

Sogorka left his former position as general manager of Rocket's third-party origination channel earlier this year, citing an interest in transitioning to a job that would give him more flexibility to spend time with his family in San Diego.

Mike Fawaz, who had not immediately responded to an inquiry from this publication at deadline, departed from his previous post as executive vice president at Rocket Pro unit a couple of weeks after Sogorka.

"Mike knew the value of a true partner while starting his new shop, and we are excited to be just that for him and all of our broker partners," United Wholesale Mortgage CEO Mat Ishbia said in a Linkedin post commenting on Fawaz's new company.

UWM, which has had a long rivalry with Rocket, will be one of multiple wholesale lenders working with Origna8. Others will be announced soon, Sogorka said.