Harlow Payments was founded in 2024 by a leadership team with decades of experience in the payments industry.
Before Harlow, its founders and executives helped build and scale EVO Payments, a global payments processor that was later acquired by Global Payments for $4 billion. This experience shaped her attitude towards payments, growth and responsibility.
Rather than chasing hype, Harlow was founded to repair what had been broken over time under his leadership. Layers of bureaucracy. Rushed onboarding. Dealers are treated like numbers and not like partners.
“The goal was not to launch another processor,” the team says. “It was about building what we wished existed when we sat on the other side of the table.”
Harlow is based in Melville, New York and focuses on small and medium-sized businesses throughout the United States. His work focuses on payment operations, underwriting discipline and scalable technology, including embedded payments and AI-driven tools. But the company’s real unique selling point isn’t its technology. It’s experience.
Everyone at Harlow has experienced growth, acquisitions, pressures and failures. This shared history creates what the team calls “quiet trust.”
“We’ve seen this movie before,” they say. “That keeps us grounded.”
Harlow measures success differently than most processors. Results are important, but implementation, trust, learning and long-term stability are also important.
“A victory that creates future problems is not a victory,” the team says.
At its core, Harlow Payments is about treating businesses like people, not account numbers. No noise. No spin. Only disciplined operators who do their job right.
Interview: Inside Harlow Payments
A conversation about experience, discipline and building trust
Q: Let’s start at the beginning. Why launch Harlow Payments in 2024?
Harlow Payments: After years in payments, we felt something wasn’t right. We had seen the industry from all angles – startup, scale-up, acquisition, corporate. Over time, the dealers were no longer the focus. The goal with Harlow was simple: fix what was broken.
Q: What specifically felt broken?
Harlow Payments: Speed without structure. Growth without direction. Decisions are made based on volume rather than quality. Most payment problems are non-technical. They are ready for use.
Q: They all came from EVO Payments. How did this experience shape Harlow?
Harlow Payments: EVO showed us how complex payments really are. Scaling is revealed where shortcuts later hurt. The $4 billion acquisition showed us what durability looks like. We have brought it all forward – the good and the painful.
Q: Starting over must have been difficult.
Harlow Payments: It was humbling. When it comes to payments, trust is everything. We had to earn it again. We didn’t achieve this by being louder or more noticeable. We did it by being disciplined and humane.
Q: Was there an early moment that tested that discipline?
Harlow Payments: Yes. Early on, we agreed too quickly on a dealer that looked great on paper. Strong volume. Tight schedule. We have loosened some guardrails.
Q: What happened?
Harlow Payments: Friction. Support load increased. Risk signals appeared late. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to make it clear that we had drifted.
Q: What did you take away from this experience?
Harlow Payments: It wasn’t the merchant’s fault. We have deviated from our own standards. Speed without structure creates resistance.
Q: What changed after that?
Harlow Payments: We have tightened underwriting. Ask deeper questions in advance. Slowed starts if necessary. And we empowered teams to say no.
Q: It’s hard to say no when it comes to payments.
Harlow Payments: This is it. But saying yes to the wrong fit costs more later. If it doesn’t feel right early, it won’t feel better later.
Q: How do you define success today?
Harlow Payments: Results count first. Then execution. Then trust. Then learn. A project is not successful if it causes chaos in the future.
Q: How do you keep momentum going during tough times?
Harlow Payments: Facts instead of feelings. Break problems down into small steps. Stock pressure. No lone heroes.
Q: What motivates the team now?
Harlow Payments: We are building the company we wish we had earlier in our careers. Clean processes. Real transparency. Zero tolerance for nonsense.
Q: What does leadership look like at Harlow?
Harlow Payments: Peace of mind. Integrity under pressure. Attention to detail. Experience without ego.
Q: Final thought?
Harlow Payments: We’re not trying to get attention. We’re trying to create something that will last.
