(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) In an attempt to offer more to current and potential student-athletes, Missouri Western State University Athletics has collaborated with Influxer to provide Name Image Likeness (NIL) opportunities. When athletes sign up with Influxer, they’re offered many ways to promote themselves and earn a small income from player-personalized merchandise. Influxer states on the NIL merchandise marketplace that student-athlete […]
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) In an attempt to offer more to current and potential student-athletes, Missouri Western State University Athletics has collaborated with Influxer to provide Name Image Likeness (NIL) opportunities.
When athletes sign up with Influxer, they’re offered many ways to promote themselves and earn a small income from player-personalized merchandise.
Influxer states on the NIL merchandise marketplace that student-athlete percentages earned from the NIL shop range from 15% to 28%, depending on the rate agreement when a school agrees to collaborate with the company.
Influxer also provides additional training to student-athletes in its system by showing them effective ways to market themselves, including tips on entrepreneurship and personal branding.
Ryan Harrington, Head of University Licensing for Influxer, said the company’s central vision is to continuously stay true to itself and the athletes they serve.
“Where our full focus is on supporting student-athletes in this space, everything we do is with the student-athlete in mind, to make sure that we’re providing a great service for them,” Harrington said. “That’s really where all of our focus goes. We understand that sports is 24/7, 365, so that’s how we operate as a company.”
Opportunities for student-athletes to earn income continue beyond co-licensed merchandise. When athletes sign up on Influxer, they are also connected to an NIL marketplace where brands can reach out. These brand partnerships allow for sponsored posts and more.
The company was founded by a former student-athlete who realized the opportunity to take athletes to the next level after the passage of NIL in 2021.
Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Head of Compliance Madeline Simmons is thrilled to open more possibilities for Missouri Western student-athletes.
“It’s the first opportunity that we’ve actually provided for our student-athletes in this space. A lot of 99% of NIL deals is up to the student-athlete,” said Simmons. “In order for us to provide something for everybody, especially our international student-athletes as well, I think it’s excitement”.
Thanks to NIL, student-athletes have had a greater pedestal in jump-starting their careers, giving us names like Caitlin Clark, Travis Hunter, and others before they officially left the classroom.
Many of the top names reside at the Division I level, but thanks to companies like Influxer, these opportunities can be reached down to Division II and lower to assist student-athletes in not only helping their teams win the game but also making sure they can have a comfortable time in college.
These companies help athletes like Missouri Western Men’s Basketball Senior Zion Swader in supporting themselves throughout their college career. Swader signed up for this new opportunity after discussing it with other Griffon student-athletes.
For Swader, being able to practice NIL safely and easily means a lot. College life can be hectic, especially when playing an organized sport full of practices, workouts, games, and more.
Swader aims to set an example of how an experienced player can lead a team and how other student-athletes can manage themselves and create opportunities while still in college.
“Not everybody on the team has a scholarship, so just like having that home support, they can be supported as well,” Swader shared. “Because, in colleges, it is hard for your student-athlete to get a job. So I think that is just a true blessing for everybody.”
Currently, 62 Missouri Western student-athletes have signed up for Influxer. To shop for official Missouri Western / Influxer merchandise, click here.
