We Are Cortex | George Crane

Suppose you own a business. People have to pay you, right? How are you going to accept those payments? What will it cost you to accept credit cards? Are there hidden fees? Is your industry regulated, and does that add complexity? Do you sell goods internationally? How will you accept overseas payments? Do you need a point-of-sale solution to accept payments?

If those are your questions, George Crane is the guy you want to talk to. As a payments consultant for Cortex-based startup Swipesum, he can guide you through the complex maze of payment options and fees — and maybe, just maybe, make you some money in the process.

“There's tips and tricks and strategies to reduce those fees — or even monetize those fees, in some cases — that businesses may or may not be aware of,” Crane said. The startup — founded in 2017 in Los Angeles and moved to St. Louis — offers consulting services aided by a proprietary software platform called Staitment. The company says it eliminates most credit card processing fees and identifies favorable terms, boasting a savings of more than $100 million to businesses since its founding.

Crane started with the firm in 2018 after landing a fellowship with the now-defunct Venture for America, a program designed to encourage participants to pursue startup careers. “I honestly didn't know they existed,” Crane said. “I matched with Swipesum in the fellowship and started learning payments.”

Late last year, Swipesum moved from its original St. Louis offices into Cortex, a move Crane appreciated for the sense of buzzy community it brought to his job. “Since we've come here, there's so much hustle and bustle,” he said. “You see so many people working hard, and it's just really cool to tap into that energy any given day.”

He especially appreciates that — in his words — even introverts can find a way to break out of their shell working in the Cortext community.

“I still meet people in the kitchen any given week who are working on something so cool that I had no idea about,” he said. “They're just hiding right down the hall. In time, if you stick around, you get to know those people personally, but also professionally.”

And as a data-driven person, Crane also appreciates that Cortex measures its reach through its annual impact report. That shows that businesses in the district find connections and support.

“Regardless of whether Swipesum can't be a resource for you, there's someone here in this building who can get you further along than you could by yourself,” he said. “We love to be a part of that.”

We Are Cortex celebrates the individuals who power our vibrant district.