Campus Ink

The story of Campus Ink begins not with a grand business plan, but with a college student's side hustle. In 2012, University of Illinois student Steven Farag started selling merchandise for his fraternity. He got to know the owners of a local print shop, Campus Sportswear, a family business started back in 1947. After graduating, Farag partnered with the shop's owners, Tom and Jedd, rebranding the company as Campus Ink in 2015 and aiming to empower other students to become entrepreneurs. A major turning point arrived on July 1, 2021, when the NCAA changed its rules, allowing college athletes to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Recognizing the opportunity, Campus Ink quickly pivoted. Farag developed a platform for University of Illinois athletes, which rapidly proved successful. This led to the creation of The NIL Store, a merchandising solution for student-athletes across the country, offering co-licensed apparel with university branding. The move into NIL caught the attention of investors. In March 2022, after a cold email from Farag, billionaire Mark Cuban invested in the company. This was followed by more funding, including a $2 million round in March 2024 led by Scrum Ventures, bringing Campus Ink's total funding to $4 million. This capital is fueling a rapid expansion, with plans to support over 100 schools and more than 20,000 athletes, cementing Campus Ink's position as a key player in the evolving world of college sports.