A Steady Force in a Rapidly Evolving Industry
The fintech landscape has transformed dramatically over the past two decades, and few leaders have been as consistently present and influential as Eric Hannelius. With 25 years of experience across payments, venture capital, and financial services, Eric has built a career defined by innovation, strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to improving the financial experience for businesses and consumers. His vision continues to influence how digital payments operate today and how they will evolve tomorrow.
Foundations in Financial Strategy and Venture Capital
Long before he became widely recognized for building successful payment platforms, Eric Hannelius laid the groundwork for his career at Fleet Boston Financial. These early experiences shaped his analytical lens, giving him a deep understanding of financial operations and the importance of designing solutions that genuinely address customer needs.
His role as a founding member of General Catalyst Partners placed him at the center of early-stage venture investment, exposing him to transformational technologies and entrepreneurs. This period sharpened his ability to identify market gaps, evaluate emerging trends, and support companies that would later redefine the tech and financial sectors. These early foundations continue to inform his leadership and his approach to innovation.
Building a Global Payments Powerhouse
One of Eric’s most significant contributions to the fintech industry came through Vision Payment Solutions Inc. (VPS), the company he founded and led for 13 years. Under his leadership, VPS grew from a small startup into a global payments provider known for its reliability, customer focus, and streamlined digital solutions. Eric’s strategy centered around understanding the challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses and creating services that empowered them to grow.
VPS eventually caught the attention of EVO Payments International, leading to a successful acquisition. This milestone demonstrated not only the company’s market strength but also Eric’s ability to build scalable, high-value businesses in a competitive industry.
Leading Pepper Pay Into the Future
Today, Eric Hannelius heads Pepper Pay LLC, his latest fintech venture designed to address the modern demands of digital commerce. Pepper Pay focuses on intuitive, secure, and efficient payment solutions that align with how customers and businesses interact in an increasingly digital world. With fraud prevention, convenience, and seamless UX becoming essential expectations, Eric’s leadership ensures the company stays ahead of industry trends.
His approach blends deep financial expertise with a forward-looking mindset, creating tools that adapt to shifting consumer behaviors and merchant requirements. As fintech becomes more embedded in daily life, Pepper Pay reflects his belief that payment experiences must be simple, secure, and trustworthy.
A Vision Grounded in Customer Experience
Across every stage of his career, Eric has maintained one consistent philosophy: the customer journey must guide product development. Whether serving a small business owner or partnering with enterprise clients, he believes that effective payment solutions must reduce friction, increase security, and enhance overall satisfaction.
This customer-first mindset is particularly relevant today, as digital payments continue to evolve through mobile technology, contactless systems, and AI-driven security. Eric’s focus on delivering convenience without compromising safety sets him apart as a leader in the field.
Driving Innovation With Integrity and Insight
In an industry often defined by speed and disruption, Eric Hannelius brings something both rare and valuable—innovation rooted in integrity. His decisions are guided not only by market opportunity but also by the long-term impact of technology on businesses and communities. He has developed a reputation for building high-performance teams, promoting transparent leadership, and fostering environments where creativity is encouraged and data-driven strategy is the backbone of progress.
Shaping the Next Era of Fintech
As digital payments continue to expand, the industry looks to leaders like Eric Hannelius who combine experience with a clear vision for the future. Through his work at Pepper Pay and his decades of industry contributions, he remains at the forefront of financial technology—helping to shape solutions that meet the growing demand for smarter, safer, and more seamless digital transactions.
Eric’s story is far from finished, but his influence is already evident across the fintech ecosystem. With his commitment to innovation and excellence, he continues to help define what the next generation of payment technology will look like.
