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Utopaya was founded in 2022 with the vision of assisting software vendors navigate an increasingly complex payments landscape. After years of working in ISV partnerships at major payment processors including TSYS, Global Payments, and Clearent, it became clear to me that asymmetrical information between software vendors and processors themselves often resulted in a costly and frustrating “failure to launch.”
When Brian saw an opportunity to provide advisory services to avoid these suboptimal outcomes, and Utopaya was born. We strive to serve as a conduit between the two sides of an embedded payments partnership and leverage our experience to create long-lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Software vendors have unprecedented opportunity to monetize payment volume running through their systems, yet they consistently struggle to successfully commercialize an integrated payments strategy.
Brian Abernethy’s background in the integrated payments space includes positions of increasing responsibility at major payment processors including TSYS, Global Payments, and Clearent. Specializing in the Independent Software Vendor (ISV) partnership channel, Brian has an extensive background in helping ISV’s create a comprehensive integrated payments strategy including technological requirements, operational planning, marketing campaigns, and ultimately commercialization. Throughout his career, he has overseen the creation of over 100 integrated payments partnerships in verticals markets such as Healthcare, Field Services, Non-Profit/Fundraising, Retail, Restaurant, Hospitality, Professional Services, B2B, and many more.
Brian was named a recipient of 2023 Electronic Transaction Association (ETA) “Forty Under 40,” which “recognizes the game-chargers in the payments industry.” As a member of the ETA, he participates in both the Payment Facilitation and Retail Technology committees, staying on the cutting edge of trends in both arenas. Over the past several years, Brian has provided thought leadership through public events including “ETA PayFac Day,” investor roundtables facilitated by KBW at Money 20/20, and a number of webinars and podcasts from Clearent.
After founding Utopaya in early 2022, Brian has already successfully completed dozens of projects of varying size and scope. Select engagements include:
Brian holds a Masters in Business Administration from Wake Forest University and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from St. Lawrence University, where he was an All-American goalkeeper on the Men’s Soccer team.
We differentiate ourselves by promising to always act with our clients’ best interest at heart, a marked departure from the innumerable ethical gray areas found in the payments industry.
Utopaya is proud to be a founding member of the Embedded Payments Bill of Rights. As an independent consulting firm servicing the embedded payments industry,
We subscribe the eight core principles set forth in this mandate
