Next Play Initiative.
NPI is not simply an athlete-development program. It’s a revenue-generating platform that brings corporate partnership dollars into high school and college athletic departments, while giving every athlete real NIL opportunities and the education to make the most of them.
NIL education is built in. Athletes learn how NIL works, how to build a brand, and how to approach a deal with confidence.
New revenue through corporate partnerships and NIL opportunities, backed by Axe’s partnership team.
A dedicated NIL sales team that helps athletes find and pursue opportunities, plus a NIL playbook that teaches them how NIL works.
A revenue engine for your athletic department.
Every participating school gets a complete sales operation without adding staff or infrastructure. We find the brands, build the deals, and bring new revenue to your department and your athletes.
We source, negotiate, and execute.
Our reps find the brand partners, negotiate the terms, and carry each deal through to execution, so your staff doesn’t have to.
Partners for the department and every team.
Corporate sponsorships for your athletic department and for individual teams, connecting your programs with brands that want to reach your fans and community.
Beyond the athlete deal.
Logo and patch deals, signage, naming rights, and other commercial partnerships, built around your school’s assets and priorities.
Expertise without the overhead.
Specialized expertise and round-the-clock support, with no new hires, training, or overhead for your department.
Backed by the support that lasts.
Revenue and opportunity are the engine. Three programs, delivered through live sessions and monthly content, keep athletes performing now and prepared for what comes next.
Mental Performance
Live sessions with each team, backed by a monthly video series athletes can return to all year.
Financial Literacy
In-person sessions each semester, plus monthly video lessons on everyday money skills.
Life After Sports
A speaker-led session on planning ahead, paired with a hands-on LinkedIn workshop.
What NPI delivers.
NPI creates value on both sides of the equation: tangible resources and services for athletes, and a revenue engine built for high schools and colleges.
What the Athlete Gets
- NIL Sales Team. Experienced reps who find, negotiate, and manage brand deals for you, so you can stay focused on your sport.
- Mental Performance. A sharper, steadier mindset for high-pressure moments, whether in the game or in the public eye.
- Financial Literacy. Real-world money skills, so NIL income builds lasting financial footing instead of disappearing.
- Life After Sports. A career roadmap and a stronger professional presence, so the next chapter starts before the last one ends.
- NIL Education. A clear, practical grounding in how NIL works, from understanding your rights and value to building a personal brand and evaluating deals.
What the School Gets
- A team of NIL specialists focused on finding and developing new revenue opportunities
- Corporate partnership support that connects athletic programs with potential brand partners
- A scalable revenue model that helps schools get the most out of NIL
- A cost-effective alternative to building a full-time in-house team, bringing specialized expertise while conserving school resources
- Parent education sessions that help families understand NIL and how the school supports their athletes
Teams we work with.
NPI is implemented at the team and school level, at both high schools and colleges. Axe works directly with athletic departments as a third-party NIL provider, building structured opportunities that connect an entire roster with brands and businesses.
Clarkson University
Clarkson University
