Echelon Announces Strategic Investment in CREATE. Payments

A successful year of partnership leads to the next step in a shared growth strategy

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Echelon Payments announced a strategic investment in CREATE., building on a relationship that began in September 2025 when CREATE. joined Echelon’s Strategic Partner Program.

Since then, the companies have leveraged their complementary strengths to create new opportunities. Now, Echelon is investing in CREATE.’s continued growth while expanding their collective reach.

“A year ago, the CREATE. and Echelon teams came together, put in the work, and built the kind of trust you cannot put in a contract. That’s why today feels less like a transaction and more like family making it official. For 20 years, Echelon has been built on stability, trust, and a commitment to the people who call it home. To the entire CREATE. team, welcome home! This milestone belongs to everyone on both teams who made it happen. We’re excited for what’s ahead and confident we’re just getting started,” said Kevin Canada, CSO at Echelon.

The partnership brings together two organizations built by industry veterans with hundreds of years of combined experience. CREATE. brings established expertise and relationships in the nonprofit sector, along with a first-of-its-kind technology stack designed to move the industry forward. Echelon, founded by Brett Sturm and Richard Ross, with board member Jeff Rosenblatt, provides the full-service operational infrastructure to help CREATE. accelerate its growth.

“Echelon promised us a partnership that would create value for both organizations, and they have more than fulfilled that promise,” said Peter Youngren, CEO of CREATE. “The past year has shown us that we share much more than a business relationship. We share a vision for how we can grow, serve our customers and create opportunities together. This investment is the natural next step.”

The investment represents a significant commitment by Echelon to its Strategic Partner Program and reinforces the company’s focus on growth, innovation and strategic expansion.

About CREATE. Payments

CREATE. Payments is a fast-growing payments company dedicated to helping agents, merchants, and partners thrive in an evolving financial landscape. See how CREATE. Payments supports agents as they scale faster than anywhere else.

About Echelon Payments

Founded in 2006, Echelon delivers personalized payment solutions backed by advanced security and world-class support. We empower sales partners to build their own businesses with industry-leading contracts and the resources to grow.