Tip the Play
NIL compliant • Fan-to-athlete contributions

Tip the Play — One Pager

We enable fans to make direct NIL contributions to athletes in the moments that matter — simple, compliant, and athlete‑first.

Stage

Pre-seed

Focus

Direct NIL contributions & private messaging

Compliance

NIL-first design (Stripe + KYC)

Problem

Fans want to contribute to an athlete’s NIL at the exact moment of excitement, but today there’s no simple, compliant way to do it directly.

Athletes, meanwhile, struggle to land big sponsorship deals consistently. Most NIL platforms emphasize large, scheduled brand activations, not everyday fan support.

The result: missed value on both sides and no compliant channel to capture real-time intent. Importantly, contributions should not be tied to on‑field performance or outcomes.

Solution

A real‑time NIL contribution + message layer for college sports. Fans can make a small NIL contribution with a short encouraging message during games, recovery, training, or any time. Athletes receive funds directly (Stripe payouts) and can optionally reply — building authentic, compliant relationships with fans.

How It Works

1. Moments that matter (anytime)

Fans can contribute at any time: after a highlight, during recovery, from the bench, or between games. NIL contributions are not contingent on performance.

2. NIL contribution + message

Fans make a quick NIL contribution and add a short message of support.

3. Direct payout + inbox

Athletes receive funds via Stripe and can reply from a simple private inbox.

Compliance note: Contributions are never tied to on‑field performance or playing time and can be made at any time.

Market Opportunity

  • College sports deliver massive, recurring reach: 2025 CFP semifinals averaged 19.2M viewers; early March Madness rounds averaged ~9.4M viewers.
  • NIL spend is accelerating: projected at ~$1.67B in 2024–25, up from $917M in 2021–22.
  • Consumers already pay creators directly: the global creator economy was ~$205B in 2024 (tipping, subs, memberships) and is growing >20% CAGR. d
  • College athletes are creators. Tip the Play provides an NIL‑compliant, direct channel for them to capture fan contributions around the content they already produce, highlights, training, recovery, and everyday moments.
  • Tip the Play captures this shift with real‑time NIL micro‑contributions during live games and beyond, converting TV‑scale attention into compliant NIL revenue for athletes.

Sources: Reuters (CFP 2025); AP/NCAA (March Madness ratings & attendance); Opendorse (NIL market); Grand View Research (creator economy).

Product Highlights

Live‑moment and anytime NIL contributions

Tiered, fast, and designed for game‑time energy and everyday support.

Private inbox + replies

Athlete‑controlled engagement; simple, optional responses.

NIL compliance guardrails

KYC, audit trail, and no inducements or pay‑for‑play.

Built for growth

Optimized for shareability and moment‑driven discovery.

Early Traction

  • Beta platforms live — functional iOS app, Android app, and web app with NIL contribution leaderboard, athlete inbox & fan messaging, compliance logging.
  • University outreach in motion — active discussions with Utah Valley University, BYU, and Utah Tech; compliance review meetings scheduled.
  • Founding athlete pipeline — identified 20+ potential athletes across football, basketball, and Olympic sports (awaiting NIL pre‑clearance).
  • Operational readiness — Stripe Connect (KYC/AML) integrated; reporting & compliance export workflows functional.
  • Next milestones — onboard first 10 athletes; launch campus activations at Utah schools within 60 days.

Figures are preliminary; athlete counts subject to verification & school compliance clearance.

Go-To-Market Strategy

  • Target high-visibility athletes in early season highlight moments.
  • Partnerships with compliance offices to streamline onboarding.
  • Social amplification of top fan messages + athlete replies.
  • Campus ambassador program (leveraging sports marketing majors).
  • B2B pipeline: later SaaS layer for athletic departments (reporting & compliance dashboards).

Business Model

  • Platform fee on NIL contributions (through Stripe split), variable by tier.
  • Future premium athlete tools (analytics, fan CRM).
  • Department compliance dashboard subscription (phase 2).
  • Athlete store with digital purchases (phase 2).

Competitive Landscape

Traditional NIL marketplaces and creator tools are asynchronous and generic. Tip the Play captures fan intent in real‑time, during live games and beyond, with compliant, athlete‑centric NIL micro‑contributions.

Brand Marketplaces

e.g., Opendorse, INFLCR

  • Campaign-based; scheduling friction
  • Weeks to activate; not real‑time
  • Brand-led, not fan-led

Creator Monetization

e.g., Patreon, Cameo, OnlyFans

  • Algorithm/discovery dependent
  • Paywalls & one-off bookings
  • Not built for live athletic moments

Donor/Collective Platforms

Institution-focused

  • School-first incentives
  • Limited athlete autonomy
  • Less emotional fan connection

Tip the Play — Our Wedge

  • Real‑time NIL micro‑contributions: capture intent during peak emotion (game time) and beyond.
  • Compliance by design: $599 cap, Stripe Connect (KYC/AML), exportable reports for schools.
  • Athlete‑centric UX: leaderboards and a private inbox with optional replies; fans feel seen.
  • Direct payouts: fan → athlete; Tip the Play never holds funds.
  • On‑campus GTM: Athlete Success Managers recruit, verify, and activate athletes face‑to‑face.

Roadmap (Next 12 Months)

  • Q1
    Athlete onboarding + real-time highlight amplification.
  • Q2
    Athlete stores with digital merchandise and fan avatars.
  • Q3
    Compliance dashboard SaaS beta.
  • Q4
    Expansion to additional conferences & pro prospects.

Team

Lean founding team combining product engineering, sports media, and athlete development experience.

Chester Davison

Chester Davison

Founder & CEO

BYU alum (ChemE, CS) and full‑stack engineer. Product builder with experience in platform design, growth, and NIL compliance strategy.

LinkedIn →
Curtis Hart

Curtis Hart

Co‑Founder & CMO

Background in brand partnerships and an avid sports fan. Leads athlete recruitment, marketing strategy, and university outreach.

LinkedIn →
Tamazine Davison

Tamazine Davison

COO

20+ years in business operations and leadership. Oversees organizational strategy, compliance, and partnerships.

LinkedIn →

Investment Ask

Pre-seed raise: $300k–$500k

Use of Funds (Pre-Seed)

Capital is concentrated on athlete acquisition and brand awareness; minimal allocation to product polish.

Pre-Seed
  • Athlete Acquisition & On-Campus Activations (70%)
    ASMs, bounties, launch weeks, tailgates, QR activations, radio/podcast segments.
    $210k–$350k on a $300k–$500k raise
  • Brand Awareness & Media (20%)
    Paid boosts, creative, campus print, lightweight video, partnerships.
    $60k–$100k
  • Product Polish (5%)
    MVPs for athlete stores & fan avatars, compliance reporting maintenance.
    $15k–$25k
  • Ops & Contingency (5%)
    Legal, filings, basic infra, travel.
    $15k–$25k

Allocations emphasize go‑to‑market; product investment increases after initial traction.

Schedule an intro

Confidential draft — not for distribution. Metrics pending validation.