Acqio

Founded in 2014, Acqio is a Brazilian financial technology firm that has carved out a distinct niche in the payments sector by pioneering a franchise-based distribution model. The company was established by co-founders Igor Gatis, Gustavo Danzi, Robson Campos, and Rodolfo Cezar. The initial impetus for the company came from Robson Campos's prior experience managing a restaurant, where he identified the burdensome nature of high credit card machine fees, particularly for smaller businesses. This firsthand insight led to Acqio's strategic focus on serving the C, D, and E economic classes in Brazil, a segment the founders felt was underserved by incumbent payment processors.

Acqio operates primarily as an acquirer, providing payment processing solutions for small and medium-sized retailers across Brazil. Its core business model revolves around being the first company in Brazil's payment industry to utilize a franchising system for the distribution of its products and services. This network of over 200 franchisees enables a localized, in-person, and consultative sales and support approach, covering more than 1,600 municipalities. Revenue is generated through transaction fees on payments processed through its systems and from the sale of its point-of-sale hardware. Franchisees earn recurring income based on the transaction volume of the client portfolio they build and manage. The company has received significant financial backing, including a R$50 million investment from XP Asset Management in 2021, and was acquired by EntrePay in July 2024.

The company's product suite is designed to meet the needs of Brazilian entrepreneurs. Offerings include a range of point-of-sale (POS) terminals, from standard card machines (Acqio Mais, Acqio Pro) to Smart POS devices. Beyond physical hardware, Acqio provides digital payment solutions like Acqio Link for generating payment links for social media and online sales. A key feature is the "Portal do Lojista," a client portal and app that allows merchants to manage their sales, track receivables, simulate transactions, and access financial statements. The platform also supports receivables anticipation, allowing businesses to access their funds ahead of the standard settlement schedule. For its franchisees, Acqio provides a dedicated app and portal to manage their client portfolios, track earnings in real-time, and receive training through the "Universidade Acqio".

Keywords: payment processing, fintech, franchising model, POS terminals, small business solutions, merchant services, acquiring, payment gateway, financial services, retail technology