How Influential Empowers Student-Athletes through NIL Partnerships

Since July 1, 2021, collegiate student-athletes have gained the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Here at Influential we quickly recognized the potential in this new space and established a dedicated NIL department. Leveraging our partnership with IBM Watson, we effectively target audiences based on their preferences, enabling student-athletes from over 16 sports to collaborate with top brands for paid social media campaigns.

Expanding Horizons and Driving Success:

At Influential, we firmly believe in empowering student-athletes and helping them reach their full potential. Through our strategic partnership with IBM Watson, we have harnessed cutting-edge talent identification technology to precisely target audiences based on their preferences. This has allowed us to collaborate with student-athletes from over 16 different sports, connecting them with our brand clients for engaging and impactful paid social media campaigns. Our mission is not only to facilitate partnerships with top-tier athletes but also to guide brands in selecting the perfect talent to resonate with their target audiences.

Transforming the NIL Landscape and Empowering Female Athletes:

The NIL space has predominantly been localized, with companies in college towns seeking to partner with hometown athletes. However, Influential has created a national reach, securing campaigns with Fortune 500 and 1000 brands. In our first year of NIL campaigns, we achieved nearly 40 million impressions, with an average of 18 student-athletes participating in each campaign.

One of our proudest moments was our collaboration with TIAA during March Madness 2022, where we featured 50 female student-athletes to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. This groundbreaking campaign shed light on gender inequities in retirement and garnered tremendous attention, earning a well-deserved nomination for the best NIL campaign at the inaugural NIL Summit in June 2022.

At Influential, our unwavering dedication to empowering collegiate student-athletes has propelled us to the forefront of the NIL revolution. Through our national reach, strategic brand collaborations, and unwavering commitment to authenticity, we are reshaping the future of influencer marketing in the collegiate sports landscape. As we forge ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to guide brands towards meaningful partnerships, supporting student-athletes in their journey to achieve both athletic and financial success. Stay tuned as we continue to make waves and unlock new opportunities for the talented athletes who inspire us every day.