Business idea · Marketplace
NIL Endorsement Platform
NIL Endorsement Platform is a platform designed to connect college athletes with brands for endorsement deals, capitalizing on the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rights now available to student-athletes. It was pitched on My First Million, hosted by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri, in the episode "I Launched A Viral Water Brand In 8 Weeks" (aired August 15, 2025).
At a glance
| Podcast | My First Million |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Sam Parr and Shaan Puri |
| Episode | I Launched A Viral Water Brand In 8 Weeks |
| Aired | August 15, 2025 |
| Category | Marketplace |
| Real companies on the episode | The Prodigy Cup (proposed), Six Seven, Overtime, Behav, Six Seven Water |
The problem it solves
This platform addresses the need for college athletes to monetize their personal brands and for businesses to find authentic endorsements from emerging sports stars.
How it makes money
Commission-based revenue model where the platform takes a percentage of the deals made between athletes and brands.
Skills you need
Knowledge of sports marketing, legal understanding of NIL regulations, networking skills, and an ability to build a user-friendly digital platform.
The market, and why this works now
The NCAA's 2021 decision to allow college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness creates a viable market for an endorsement platform. A practical first-revenue move could involve partnering with local colleges to promote the platform in their athletics departments, leveraging their networks to attract early users. A key risk is the regulatory landscape surrounding NIL agreements, which may evolve and introduce compliance challenges that could impact both the platform’s operations and its attractiveness to brands and athletes.
Our analysis, written after the episode. Not a quote from the show.
Real companies discussed on this episode
- The Prodigy Cup (proposed)
The Prodigy Cup is an upcoming chess event that aims to showcase young chess prodigies in a more engaging and accessible format.
- Six Seven
A canned water brand co-founded by high school basketball player Taylor Kinney, capitalizing on a viral TikTok meme.
- Overtime
Overtime is a youth sports media company that focuses on basketball and engages with fans through social media and community interactions.
- Behav
Behav is a tool designed to help businesses manage their email subscriber base more effectively.
- Six Seven Water
Six Seven Water is a beverage company associated with athlete TK, focusing on building a brand that resonates with younger audiences.
Where this idea came from
Podcast: My First Million, hosted by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri
Episode: I Launched A Viral Water Brand In 8 Weeks
Aired:
Summarized from the episode transcript. The show does not say which speaker raised each idea, so we credit the show, not a person.