Indiana University Unveils NIL Exchange for Athlete Deals

Indiana University introduces NIL Exchange, a portal connecting student-athletes with businesses for NIL opportunities.

Indiana's Kurtis Rourke (9) passes during the second half of the Indiana versus Florida International football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Indiana Hoosiers have unveiled the Indiana NIL Exchange, a dedicated portal to bridge the gap between athletes and businesses eager to explore name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities. Created in partnership with Teamworks Influencer, the platform aims to simplify the NIL process for both parties and is a no-cost engagement platform.

Indiana Athletics announces the launch of the Indiana NIL Exchange with @Teamworks & @INFLCR. https://t.co/5HOJsjRmZT

— Indiana Hoosiers (@IUHoosiers) September 3, 2024

This follows the trend of dedicated NIL platforms at large Power 5 schools, similar to Caleb Downs's platform at Ohio State.

Indiana NIL Exchange is designed to offer a straightforward, user-friendly experience that demystifies the complexities of NIL agreements for Student-Athletes. By facilitating initial communications between athletes and businesses, the portal ensures a secure payment processing system and automatically generates essential tax forms, all while adhering to IU Athletics’ NIL guidelines. 

Scott Dolson, IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics emphasized this point, stating, "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. 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."

Beyond connecting athletes with potential sponsors, the portal is a vital educational resource. It offers a wealth of materials focused on brand building and financial literacy, equipping student-athletes with the knowledge to navigate the business landscape effectively. 

After registering on the Indiana NIL Exchange, businesses can access a database of IU student-athletes. They can search for potential NIL candidates based on various criteria and directly message athletes to initiate contact. Once an agreement is established, a tailored form compliant with IU Athletics’ policies is generated and sent for record-keeping.

Indiana NIL Exchange will open new avenues for student-athletes to monetize their brands and pursue NIL deals on a broader scale, ensuring they have the tools and resources necessary for success.