Ep 22: Aubrey Amatelli – Cannabis Payments, Culture-First Leadership, and Bootstrapping a Fintech Powerhouse

What happens when a former JP Morgan exec leaves Wall Street to solve one of cannabis tech’s hardest problems?In this episode, I talk to Aubrey Amatelli, Founder and CEO of PayRio, the first payment provider exclusively built for cannabis, CBD, and alternative medicine. Aubrey bootstrapped PayRio to profitability in under a year, built a 100% women-led leadership team, and was recently named the #1 Best Cannabis Company to Work For in 2025.We cover how she transitioned from banking to cannabis fintech, how she built trust in a high-risk industry, and why compliance and culture are two of her sharpest competitive advantages.You’ll also hear how she balances founder life with single motherhood, how her own mental health journey has shaped her leadership style, and what it really takes to build something sustainable without raising venture capital.🔍 We cover:Misconceptions about cannabis payments and legalityWhy compliance is a competitive advantage in fintechBootstrapping to profitability without outside investmentBuilding PayRio’s team through trust and culture-first hiringProcessing payments for cannabis, psychedelics, peptides, and moreHer role on NCIA’s Banking & Financial Services CommitteeLessons from JP Morgan that still guide her company todayBalancing motherhood and entrepreneurship under pressureThe power of showing up authentically in business📌 Links & ResourcesPayRio → https://www.payrio.coPayRio on Linkedin →https://www.linkedin.com/company/payrio/Instagram → @payrio_hqAubrey on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/aubreyamatelliIf you enjoy this episode, drop a review and share it with someone building in fintech, cannabis, or anywhere trust and grit are essential.