EPISODE · Jun 28, 2025 · 14 MIN
🎯 Cannabis Payments with Aubrey Amatelli | Fintech Solutions for Dispensaries
from Financial Freedom Podcast with Dr. Christopher H. Loo, MD-PhD · host Christopher H. Loo, MD-PhD
Cannabis payments are one of the biggest challenges facing dispensaries and alternative medicine retailers today. In this episode, fintech leader Aubrey Amatelli, founder of Pay Rio, reveals how her payment platform offers secure, compliant solutions for businesses navigating these complex financial hurdles.If you've been searching for answers to problems like cannabis compliance, THCA and CBD payments, and working with cannabis-friendly banks, this conversation is for you. Aubrey’s firsthand experience—stemming from her career at JP Morgan and her entrepreneurial leap into the cannabis fintech space—makes her uniquely positioned to offer insights that align with your search intent.Whether you're a dispensary owner frustrated with limited banking options, or a startup looking for dispensary payment technology that actually works, Aubrey breaks down how Pay Rio leverages tools like Bitcoin, eChecks, and ATM infrastructure to serve this underserved market. She also tackles federal regulatory uncertainty, the impact of the Safer Banking Act, and why her company is thriving while others struggle.With a clear mission, bootstrapped growth, and an award-winning workplace culture, Aubrey provides actionable wisdom for founders, financial professionals, and cannabis entrepreneurs alike. Tune in and discover how to solve your cannabis payments headaches with cutting-edge solutions designed for real-world challenges.00:00 - Introduction to Aubrey Amatelli & Pay Rio01:00 - From JP Morgan to launching a cannabis fintech startup02:50 - What makes Pay Rio unique in cannabis payments04:15 - Navigating compliance and alternative medicine regulations05:30 - Surviving banking limitations and Operation Choke Point07:00 - The reality of cannabis-friendly banks08:20 - Federal vs state laws & cannabis compliance09:15 - Industry outlook & the Safer Banking Act10:45 - Funding, scaling, and profitability without VCs12:00 - Challenges of entrepreneurship in cannabis13:30 - Recognition, culture, and future plans14:30 - How to connect with Aubrey and Pay Rio#CannabisPayments#FintechStartup#AubreyAmatelli#PayRio#CannabisCompliance#AlternativeMedicine#CBDPayments#DispensaryTech#CannabisBanking#WomenInFintech#StartupFounder#CannabisBusinessTo check out the YouTube (video podcast), visit: https://www.youtube.com/@drchrisloomdphdDisclaimer: Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show. Click here to join PodMatch (the "AirBNB" of Podcasting): https://www.joinpodmatch.com/drchrisloomdphdWe couldn’t do it without the support of our listeners. To help support the show:CashApp- https://cash.app/$drchrisloomdphdVenmo- https://account.venmo.com/u/Chris-Loo-4Spotify- https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christopher-loo/supportBuy Me a Coffee- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chrisJxClick here to check out our bookstore, e-courses, and workshops: https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/shopClick here to purchase my books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PaQn4pFor audiobooks, visit: https://www.audible.com/author/Christopher-H-Loo-MD-PhD/B07WFKBG1FFollow our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/chL1357Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drchrisloomdphdFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_drchrislooFollow our Blog: https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/blogFollow the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NkM6US7cjsiAYTBjWGdx6?si=1da9d0a17be14d18Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6992935013231071233Subscribe to our email list: https://financial-freedom-podcast-with-dr-loo.kit.com/Thank you to all of our sponsors and advertisers that help support the show!Financial Freedom for Physicians, Copyright 2025
What this episode covers
Cannabis payments are one of the biggest challenges facing dispensaries and alternative medicine retailers today. In this episode, fintech leader Aubrey Amatelli, founder of Pay Rio, reveals how her payment platform offers secure, compliant solutions for businesses navigating these complex financial hurdles.If you've been searching for answers to problems like cannabis compliance, THCA and CBD payments, and working with cannabis-friendly banks, this conversation is for you. Aubrey’s firsthand experience—stemming from her career at JP Morgan and her entrepreneurial leap into the cannabis fintech space—makes her uniquely positioned to offer insights that align with your search intent.Whether you're a dispensary owner frustrated with limited banking options, or a startup looking for dispensary payment technology that actually works, Aubrey breaks down how Pay Rio leverages tools like Bitcoin, eChecks, and ATM infrastructure to serve this underserved market. She also tackles federal regulatory uncertainty, the impact of the Safer Banking Act, and why her company is thriving while others struggle.With a clear mission, bootstrapped growth, and an award-winning workplace culture, Aubrey provides actionable wisdom for founders, financial professionals, and cannabis entrepreneurs alike. Tune in and discover how to solve your cannabis payments headaches with cutting-edge solutions designed for real-world challenges.00:00 - Introduction to Aubrey Amatelli & Pay Rio01:00 - From JP Morgan to launching a cannabis fintech startup02:50 - What makes Pay Rio unique in cannabis payments04:15 - Navigating compliance and alternative medicine regulations05:30 - Surviving banking limitations and Operation Choke Point07:00 - The reality of cannabis-friendly banks08:20 - Federal vs state laws & cannabis compliance09:15 - Industry outlook & the Safer Banking Act10:45 - Funding, scaling, and profitability without VCs12:00 - Challenges of entrepreneurship in cannabis13:30 - Recognition, culture, and future plans14:30 - How to connect with Aubrey and Pay Rio#CannabisPayments#FintechStartup#AubreyAmatelli#PayRio#CannabisCompliance#AlternativeMedicine#CBDPayments#DispensaryTech#CannabisBanking#WomenInFintech#StartupFounder#CannabisBusinessTo check out the YouTube (video podcast), visit: https://www.youtube.com/@drchrisloomdphdDisclaimer: Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show. Click here to join PodMatch (the "AirBNB" of Podcasting): https://www.joinpodmatch.com/drchrisloomdphdWe couldn’t do it without the support of our listeners. To help support the show:CashApp- https://cash.app/$drchrisloomdphdVenmo- https://account.venmo.com/u/Chris-Loo-4Spotify- https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christopher-loo/supportBuy Me a Coffee- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chrisJxClick here to check out our bookstore, e-courses, and workshops: https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/shopClick here to purchase my books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PaQn4pFor audiobooks, visit: https://www.audible.com/author/Christopher-H-Loo-MD-PhD/B07WFKBG1FFollow our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/chL1357Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drchrisloomdphdFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_drchrislooFollow our Blog: https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/blogFollow the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NkM6US7cjsiAYTBjWGdx6?si=1da9d0a17be14d18Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6992935013231071233Subscribe to our email list: https://financial-freedom-podcast-with-dr-loo.kit.com/Thank you to all of our sponsors and advertisers that help support the show!Financial Freedom for Physicians, Copyright 2025
NOW PLAYING
🎯 Cannabis Payments with Aubrey Amatelli | Fintech Solutions for Dispensaries
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Mar 19, 2026 ·34m
Feb 18, 2026 ·11m
Feb 11, 2026 ·45m