A Potential Future Model

NIL company founders believe the school-specific marketplace is here to stay.

These types of companies “will be a huge part of the future for student-athletes to connect with alumni and local businesses,” Bergman said. 

The model goes beyond just providing a new opportunity for facilitating deals. 

• Technology: The companies provide a “structured/easy-to-adopt technology,” Bergman said, that would simplify the process for businesses and athletes.
• Recruiting: The programs suggest schools’ commitment to NIL and/or that there’s existing money to be made, adding to their NIL recruiting pitches whether they’re directly involved with the companies or not.
• Compliance: The platforms helping schools monitor deals can streamline compliance in an often confusing landscape where schools and states have different rules.

There are potential downsides, of course. Even with a more simplified process, the platforms are still adding more outside parties — which could easily overcomplicate deal flow.

The existing models aren’t perfect. Bergman said his products “will be ever-evolving, and will most likely look different in as little as three months as they do today.”