MortgageHippo, a mortgage-technology startup based in Chicago, has raised about $2.25 million in seed funding, the company announced Tuesday.The company was founded in 2013 as a consumer-focused online mortgage broker. Today, it offers the service as a white-label software platform for lenders who don't have the resources to build a platform for themselves.

NAMB+ Inc., the for-profit marketing and communications subsidiary of NAMB\u2014The Association of Mortgage Professionals, has announced its latest Endorsed Provider, digital mortgage platform MortgageHippo.

"Definitely shop around," says Valentin Saportas, CEO and co-founder of MortgageHippo, a Chicago-based online mortgage application service that links buyers with mortgage brokers. "Don't just go with the first option that you get. Being able to save even a little bit of money in your monthly payment definitely adds up."

MortgageHippo announced a new dashboard that streamlines the mortgage process for the homebuyer and the loan officer. With the new Advanced Loan Closing Plan, MortgageHippo builds upon its mission to create an innovative, uncomplicated, and transparent process for today's tech-savvy homebuyer.

The mortgage process can be confusing to navigate, especially for first-time homebuyers. Mortgage Hippo is a website that organizes and explains the process, preparing you for the experience of buying your first home.