Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Athletics launched the EKU Colonels Marketplace Exchange, a new platform to connect student-athletes with parties interested in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities. 

The exchange, developed in partnership with Teamworks’ Influencer app, streamlines the process for NIL transactions.

“This is a convenient and safe way for our student-athletes to engage with our fans, community, and followers,” EKU Athletics Director Kyle Moats said in the press release. “It will open a new avenue of compensation for them fitting in the changing landscape of collegiate athletics.”

The platform is a free student-athlete NIL business registry, custom-designed for approved businesses, collectives, donors, alumni, and other interested NIL entities. 

It allows direct communication, negotiation, and completion of NIL transactions between registered businesses/individuals and student-athletes.

“The launch of the EKU Exchange will unlock new opportunities for their student-athletes, allowing them to monetize their brand and pursue NIL deals at a larger scale,” stated Sean Kelly, General Manager of Teamworks Influencer.

EKU and Influencer will not be involved in deal negotiations, limiting their role to monitoring disclosures for compliance with EKU policy and state law. 

The platform consolidates all transactions into one 1099 at year-end, simplifying tax reporting for businesses and student-athletes.

NIL Platforms Gain Traction

The EKU initiative aligns with the broader trend in collegiate athletics of providing platforms for student-athletes to capitalize on their NIL rights while maintaining compliance with institutional and legal requirements.

Teamworks Influencer previously collaborated with Eastern Michigan University’s (EMU) Department of Athletics to launch EMU’s custom-designed exchange, which connects local and national businesses with student-athletes.

The company also teamed up with Brown University’s Division of Athletics and Recreation to kickstart the BRUNO Exchange.