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Campus Ink - NIL Store is a print-on-demand merchandising platform based in the United States that enables college student athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness through licensed apparel sales. The company partners with universities to provide retail and B2B custom merchandise solutions, operating a network of over 150 digital storefronts. Serving more than 30,000 athletes, the platform has generated over $50 million in lifetime revenue and distributed more than $1 million in direct payouts. The organization recently closed a $3 million investment round and is backed by notable investors including Mark Cuban, Zach Edey, High Street Equity Partners, and LightBank. Originally established as a local print shop in 1947, the modern iteration of the company was rebranded and developed by founder Steven Farag, who officially launched the NIL Store division in 2021.
Campus Ink - NIL Store has raised $2.3M across 2 funding rounds.
Campus Ink - NIL Store has raised $2.3M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Campus Ink - NIL Store has raised $2.3M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Campus Ink - NIL Store's investors include Alumni Ventures, Drive Capital.
Campus Ink - NIL Store has raised $2.3M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Series U in May 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | $2M Series U | — | Alumni Ventures, Drive Capital | Announced |
| Feb 1, 2022 | $260K Seed | — | Alumni Ventures, Drive Capital | Announced |
Campus Ink is a Chicago-based technology and merchandising platform that powers the NIL Store, enabling college student-athletes to monetize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights through officially licensed apparel and merchandise sales.[1][2][3][4] It serves athletes across over 120 schools and 25,000+ participants, including non-revenue sports, by providing high commission payouts (20-30% or $6-12 per item), in-house production, compliance tools, brand development resources, and fan engagement features like custom designs and pop-up stores.[1][2][5][6] The platform solves the problem of low athlete earnings in traditional NIL deals (often 4% or less) by offering transparent, athlete-first revenue sharing, while also training students in design, sales, and marketing—generating over $2.5 million in payouts and expanding via partnerships with retailers like Fanatics and Dick's Sporting Goods.[3][5] Backed by Mark Cuban and recent $2M funding, it shows strong growth, with 9,000+ athletes across 57 schools as of 2024 and plans for 40+ more.[3]
Campus Ink traces its roots to 1947, founded on the University of Illinois campus as a custom apparel provider for universities, fraternities, sororities, and athletic departments.[1][2][3][4] Reimagined in 2015 under CEO Steven Farag, it shifted to a modern operation with a Chicago office and Urbana production facility, focusing on student-led design and sales training.[1][3] The NIL Store launched in 2021 amid NCAA NIL rule changes, starting with the Illinois men's basketball team, which generated $100,000 in its debut 2021-22 season; former Illinois guard Brandon Podziemski was the first athlete to sign on.[2][3] Farag cold-emailed Mark Cuban, securing his initial investment in March 2022, followed by the nation's first NIL pop-up store in Chicago and a $2M funding round in 2024 to fuel tech upgrades and expansion.[2][3] Co-founder insights from sports and SaaS backgrounds drove an ethical, athlete-centric model.[5]
Campus Ink rides the explosive NIL trend post-2021 NCAA reforms, which unlocked a $1B+ market for athlete monetization amid rising college sports viewership and fan engagement.[1][2][5] Timing aligns with digital merchandising booms, where platforms like Fanatics dominate but undervalue athletes; Campus Ink differentiates via equitable tech that captures real-time campus culture through student networks.[3][5] Market forces like retail partnerships (Dick's, Scheels) and non-revenue sport inclusivity expand access beyond stars, influencing the ecosystem by raising payout standards, fostering athlete brands, and creating career pipelines—positioning it as a leader in ethical sports tech.[1][3][5]
Campus Ink's momentum—fueled by Cuban backing, $2.25M raised, and tech upgrades for athlete dashboards—sets it for nationwide dominance, potentially onboarding all Division I athletes via AI-driven personalization and global fan marketplaces.[3][4] Trends like Web3 NIL tokens, VR fan experiences, and pro-am pipelines will amplify its model, evolving influence from merch pioneer to full athlete empowerment hub. As NIL matures into a core sports economy driver, Campus Ink's student-athlete-first ethos will redefine equity, turning every highlight into lasting value.
