Merchant Acquiring Lab
Build the knowledge and skills you need to navigate, adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape with a new program focused on acquirer profitability.
Merchant Acquiring Lab is an immersive 2-day program designed to help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the merchant acquiring business with focus on profitability and growth. Throughout the program, you’ll also discover strategies to address the challenges of running a merchant acquiring business.
It includes a mix of instructional content, team-based learning and a competitive simulation, all designed to provide a deeper understanding of the complex and dynamic world of acquiring.
This program is ideal for individuals looking to gain a greater understanding of the merchant acquiring business, including those who work for an acquirer, an acquirer processor or those who work for an issuer with a merchant acquiring business. At this time, Merchant Acquiring Lab is only available to clients in Canada and the United States.
Upcoming programs
Merchant Acquiring Lab: Atlanta
1200 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Program only: US $5,000
Merchant Acquiring Lab: New York
Program only: US $5,000
Program plus hotel: US $7,000
Special offers
Merchant Acquiring Lab is Visa Value-in-Kind (VIK) eligible.
Test your skills and strategies in a team-based competition
You’ll be paired with a team of peers as you compete to build the most successful merchant acquiring portfolio over a multi-year period in a simulated marketplace.
Gain hands-on experience as you build, test and adapt your merchant acquiring strategy in a risk-free environment.
Factors your team will consider include:
- Pricing
- Risk
- Segmentation
- Sales
- Value-Added Services (VAS)
- Product
Two days of hands-on learning and networking
- Welcome and program introduction
- Key principles of acquiring
- Simulation round #1
- Drivers of acquirer profitability
- Simulation round #2
- Products and Value-Added Services
- Q&A session
- Welcome and Day One recap
- Sales and portfolio management
- Simulation round #3
- Acquirer operating models
- Simulation round #4 (final round)
- Acquirer risk management
- Q&A session
- Award ceremony and program conclusion
Meet the expert
Ted Nelson
Ted is an accomplished payments consultant with over ten years of experience specializing in merchant acquiring and payments strategy. As Head of Acquiring at Visa Consulting & Analytics for North America, he leads transformative projects for financial institutions and payment providers, helping them optimize payment acceptance and drive growth. Previously, Ted held key advisory roles at First Annapolis Consulting (now part of Accenture), where he consistently delivered actionable insights and innovative strategies to clients navigating the fast-changing payments landscape.