Most discourse regarding NIL is dominated by brand deals and social media posts. And although that avenue of NIL is awesome, there’s a piece of NIL that has been overlooked in NIL for too long:

Entrepreneurship.

In this article you will hear from Jayln Evans and Griffin Limongelli: two people who have experienced the rise of athlete entrepreneurship firsthand. Jayln Evans is the founder and visionary behind 4th Quarter NIL who has led the charge in growing 4Q into the force it is today. Griffin Limongelli serves as Program Manager of SportX at Arizona State University. In this role, he helps student-athletes build businesses. He also serves as a 4Q mentor. Through both of their experiences and roles, they will provide priceless insight on athlete entrepreneurship.

The Benefit

Like we discussed in the last article, many athletes have used NIL to provide short-term income through social media content and brand deals. Very few athletes have used their NIL to build long-term wealth. Starting a business gives athletes the opportunity to do just that!

“NIL has given student athletes a personal brand monetization platform and opportunity that has no precedent in this space of college athletics,” said Limongelli. “Many think NIL only means having to secure brand deals and partnerships, but it’s really an ownership model over your own personal brand, marks, and intellectual property. There is a broader opportunity for them to now launch their own ventures and create their own ownership and equity in something they can build from the ground up, which will launch and propel them long after their playing days. This is the ultimate branding and expression of one's likeness by creating through passion, interest, impact, and problem solving.”

The beauty of a business is that it doesn’t end once the ball stops dribbling. At that point, the business may just be getting started, as the athlete has more time to focus on it. Also, the athlete’s income isn’t decided by a company contract that they cannot control. Because they own the business, they have full ownership of how their name, image, and likeness can be leveraged to grow the business. An athlete’s name does not have to just be tied to their sport. Their sport is just the launching point for their name to grow beyond their playing days.

The Athlete Advantage

The skills athletes foster through their sport don’t have to only be used on the field. In fact, those skills are the number one reason why athletes would make such great entrepreneurs.

“The translation from the field to the startup world has been seamless because a startup is essentially a contact sport. The biggest skills that carried over are teamwork, collaboration, and managing adversity,” Evans said.

“My college football career had incredible highs, but it also had plenty of downs like injuries, setbacks, and tough losses. A startup is no different. You are going to hit roadblocks, hear "no," and face unexpected challenges daily. Football taught me how to adjust on the fly, stay resilient, trust the process, and lead a team toward a shared goal regardless of the circumstances. That athlete mindset, where adversity is just a prompt to adjust the game plan, is the engine driving 4Q.”

The Importance

“There is a harsh yet true reality to sports: an athlete's playing days will inevitably end some day. Some may end sooner or later than others, but ultimately, those who only know life as a player will be forced to pivot and create a pathway for themselves for life after sport,” said Limongelli when asked about the importance of entrepreneurship for athletes.

“With NIL, athletes can now get a broader and earlier head start on what drives them outside of sport while in their college playing days, which is a time that they are the most marketable they will ever be. 99% of college athletes will go pro in something other than sport, so being able to find skills, opportunities, ideas, and knowledge for something like business or health or entrepreneurship is very crucial for personal success outside of sport. It also gives athletes the ability to express and create something of their own that they can own outright, which is a huge trend we are seeing with pro athletes: equity and ownership in business rather than a simple paid deal.”

“Building 4Q opened my eyes to who I am beyond the jersey.” Evans said.

“For so long, an athlete's identity is tied entirely to their sport, but 4Q gave me a distinct sense of purpose beyond the field.What is beautiful, though, is that this new purpose would not exist without football. The game gave me the baseline, but building this platform proved that my value, skills, and drive are not limited to what I do between the lines. It showed me that sports are a powerful launching pad, not the final destination, and it has allowed me to build a foundation for my future while helping other athletes do the exact same thing.”

Sooooo… what’s next?

Launching and running a business takes a lot of work, and you may not see the fruits of your labor right away. However, this is NOT meant to discourage you, but motivate you.

Sports are the same way. You may not see results immediately, but by working hard day in and day out, you put yourself in position to see success when the opportunity comes.

So, the most you can do really, is just start. Doesn’t matter the idea, the competition, or the first step - just start. Every business begins somewhere, usually with an idea, no matter how outlandish or uncommon it may be. Nowadays, there are so many athlete founders of all types of businesses and ages that are great resources to reach out to for guidance, experience, and networking. Networking and connections in this space will be your biggest asset as it will help well round your resources for any area of your business.”