Cobb Reporter

Kennesaw State Athletics, in conjunction with Influencer, has revealed the establishment of the KSU Owls Exchange to enhance Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for KSU student-athletes. The initiative comes as part of Kennesaw State's efforts to optimize opportunities for its student-athletes as it transitions into Conference USA and the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) on July 1.

Director of Athletics Milton Overton expressed, "We are constantly evaluating what is best for our student-athletes in a constantly changing industry, and we are excited to provide the KSU Owls Exchange for our participating student-athletes and Owl Nation."

The KSU Owls Exchange is a contemporary platform that offers a free service to both student-athletes and third parties, providing a directory and customized portal to connect businesses, collectives, donors, alumni, and fans with student-athletes for NIL transactions. This move aims to amplify the student-athletes' opportunities and brands as Kennesaw State ventures into a higher level of exposure within Conference USA.

Upon registration, businesses will gain access to a searchable database to connect with student-athletes for potential NIL transactions. The platform allows for direct messaging or requesting contact information to initiate discussions, all while adhering to KSU, Conference USA, and NCAA policies and procedures.

Following the finalization of an NIL deal, student-athletes can complete a compliance disclosure within the Influencer app. The app is equipped with a payment-processing tool for businesses to securely and directly make payments, without transaction fees involved.

Sean Kelly, Teamworks Influencer General Manager, shared his enthusiasm stating, “We are excited to partner with Kennesaw State to launch a fee-free NIL marketplace."

The launch of the KSU Owls Exchange is set to unlock new opportunities for KSU student-athletes, enabling them to monetize their brand and pursue NIL deals on a larger scale. Teamworks Influencer is a prominent athlete brand-building and NIL business management app for numerous collegiate and professional sports organizations, empowering student-athletes to navigate the NIL era safely and compliantly.

For those interested in learning more or registering for the KSU Owls Exchange, further information can be found on the Cobb Chamber of Commerce website.