PayRio is proud to announce that it has earned certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, also known as WBENC.

The certification formally recognizes PayRio as a women-owned, operated, managed, and controlled business. It represents an important milestone for a company built around expanding financial access within regulated and historically underserved industries.

Under the leadership of founder and CEO Aubrey Amatelli, PayRio has developed payment solutions for businesses navigating complex banking, compliance, and processing environments. Becoming a WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise reinforces the leadership and values that have shaped the company from the beginning.

What Is WBENC Certification?

WBENC is a leading certifier of women-owned businesses in the United States.

According to WBENC’s certification requirements, an eligible company must be at least 51% owned, controlled, operated, and managed by one or more women. Women must maintain unrestricted control of the company and actively manage its daily operations.

Certification involves a detailed review of the business’s ownership, finances, governance, management, and legal documents. The process also includes a site visit.

This thorough review makes WBENC certification a trusted form of third-party validation for corporations, government entities, and supplier-diversity programs seeking to identify qualified women-owned businesses.

Why This Certification Matters to PayRio

WBENC certification reflects more than PayRio’s ownership structure. It recognizes the leadership behind the company and supports its continued growth within financial technology.

Women remain underrepresented in many areas of fintech and financial services. PayRio is proud to contribute to a more inclusive industry while building technology for businesses that have often struggled to access conventional payment infrastructure.

The certification also gives PayRio opportunities to connect with organizations that prioritize supplier diversity. These relationships may lead to new partnerships, educational opportunities, and collaborations with corporations and other certified women-owned businesses.

Certification does not guarantee contracts or business opportunities. However, it provides PayRio with access to a respected national network and resources that can help the company expand its relationships and capabilities.

Women’s Leadership in Financial Technology

PayRio was founded to address payment challenges that conventional providers often overlook.

Aubrey Amatelli brought extensive financial technology experience to the company, along with a clear understanding of the difficulties regulated businesses face when seeking reliable payment processing.

Her leadership has helped PayRio build relationships across cannabis, hemp, CBD, alternative wellness, ecommerce, and other specialized markets.

These industries require more than a standard payment product. Their businesses need knowledgeable underwriting, transparent communication, responsive service, and financial partners that understand their operating environments.

PayRio’s women-led perspective has been central to developing that approach.

Expanding Supplier-Diversity Opportunities

Supplier-diversity programs help corporations and government organizations identify businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, and other historically underrepresented groups.

As a WBENC-certified business, PayRio can participate more actively in procurement and partnership opportunities that recognize women-owned suppliers.

WBENC also connects certified companies with networking events, mentoring, executive education, capacity-development programs, and other business resources. These opportunities can help PayRio establish new relationships while learning from other women entrepreneurs.

The value of this network extends beyond PayRio. Stronger partnerships can help the company develop better services and expand the financial infrastructure available to its clients.

Supporting Underserved and Regulated Industries

Many of the businesses PayRio serves operate within industries that conventional financial institutions classify as high-risk.

These classifications can make it difficult for otherwise legitimate businesses to obtain stable banking and payment services. Merchants may encounter limited options, confusing underwriting, or providers that do not fully understand their products and regulations.

PayRio works to address these challenges through industry-aware payment solutions and transparent onboarding.

The company evaluates each merchant according to its business model, products, jurisdictions, transaction activity, and compliance requirements. This approach helps establish payment relationships designed around the realities of the business.

WBENC certification strengthens PayRio’s ability to build new partnerships and advocate for greater financial access across these markets.

What This Milestone Means for PayRio’s Clients

PayRio’s clients will continue receiving the same personalized service and specialized payment expertise.

The certification does not change how the company supports its merchants. Instead, it creates additional opportunities for PayRio to grow its network, strengthen corporate relationships, and expand the resources available to the company.

Those relationships may help PayRio continue developing payment infrastructure for businesses that traditional providers have underserved.

Clients also gain the opportunity to work with a payment technology company whose women-owned status has been independently reviewed and verified.

PayRio’s Continued Commitment

As PayRio celebrates this achievement, the company remains focused on its core mission: helping businesses access reliable and transparent payment solutions.

That commitment includes developing technology for regulated markets, maintaining knowledgeable financial relationships, and providing responsive support throughout the merchant lifecycle.

PayRio will also continue supporting women entrepreneurs and contributing to a more inclusive financial technology industry.

WBENC certification recognizes where PayRio stands today while creating new opportunities for the company’s future.

About PayRio

PayRio is a women-owned payment technology company serving cannabis, hemp, CBD, alternative wellness, ecommerce, and other regulated or specialized industries.

The company provides payment solutions designed around each merchant’s business model, compliance needs, and customer experience. PayRio’s approach combines industry knowledge, specialized underwriting, and personalized service to help eligible businesses build more stable payment infrastructure.

To learn more about PayRio or discuss payment options for your business, contact our team.