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Campus Ink Secures Second Multi-Million Dollar Investment from Mark Cuban

By Dustin Shrader, Managing Editor



November 16, 2022

Campus Ink, Chicago, recently announced a $2-million round of funding to continue growing its name, image and likeness (NIL) student merchandise platform.

Led by Chicago’s LightBank, a second investment from Mark Cuban, and further participation from Capital Innovators, Irish Angels, West Suburban Angels, Connetic Ventures, High Street Equity Partners and The Dike Family Partnership, the investment will allow the platform to substantially scale to universities, students and athletes around the country, according to the organization.

Campus Ink has pioneered the way for athletes and students to be fairly compensated for sales, with the platform providing inclusive and holistic merchandising options for all athletes within the NIL space.

The model proved quite successful at the University of Illinois last season, making its men’s basketball student-athletes over $100,000 during the regular season selling NIL licensed merchandise. Within six months since Cuban’s initial investment, the platform’s growth accelerated producing partnerships with nearly 25 schools that will support more than 2,000 athletes.


“When I invested in Campus Ink six months ago, they had one school and 15 athletes,” Cuban says. “Now, they’re working with nearly 25 schools and thousands of athletes with no signs of slowing down. Campus Ink is disrupting the NIL space on behalf of college athletes for the better.”

Additionally, the platform has partnered with school bookstores like Gameday Spirit, Legends and Follett. Retailers can select from a multitude of players and merchandise, while the platform compensates the athletes.

A portion of the investment will help facilitate Campus Ink’s NIL Private Label Jersey program, which provides athletes with 20-30 percent per unit sold. The platform encompasses all sports and all athletes including hockey, baseball, and softball jerseys (and more), in addition to football and basketball jerseys.


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