Indiana University Athletics announced via release it has partnered with Teamworks Influencer to launch the Indiana NIL Exchange, a dedicated, customized portal to connect IU student-athletes with businesses for name, image, and likeness opportunities.
Free to both the student-athletes and businesses, IU describes the Indiana NIL Exchange as a one-stop-shop that streamlines the NIL process from start to finish.
From the initial communication to a payment platform to automatically generated tax forms, Indiana NIL Exchange manages the process while also ensuring all agreements are compliant with IU Athletics’ Name, Image, and Likeness guidelines.
In addition to supporting both parties throughout the NIL process, Indiana NIL Exchange also features educational resources on a host of NIL-related topics, including brand building and financial literacy.
“From the start, IU Athletics has been a leader in supporting our student-athletes in maximizing their NIL opportunities, and this is the latest example of that commitment,” said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson in the release. “This technology is a tremendous resource to both parties, and it will enable our student-athletes to continue to maximize their personal brands and market themselves to businesses who can benefit greatly from these partnerships.”
After registering on Indiana NIL Exchange, businesses will be given access to a database of Indiana University student-athletes. Businesses will then be able to search the database by a variety of criteria to identify the best candidates for NIL opportunities. Businesses can then message the student-athlete directly to request contact information. IU Athletics and Influencer are not involved in any NIL negotiations.
Once an NIL agreement is reached, a customized form that is compliant with IU Athletics’ Name, Image, and Likeness Policy is generated and forwarded to IU Athletics. Indiana NIL Exchange also includes a payment processing platform allowing businesses to securely submit payments to the student-athletes while also creating a 1099 form for more efficient tax reporting.
“We are excited to partner with Indiana University to launch a fee-free NIL marketplace,” said Teamworks Influencer General Manager Sean Kelly. “The launch of the Indiana NIL Exchange will unlock new opportunities for their student-athletes, allowing them to monetize their brand and pursue NIL deals at a larger scale.”
