Tykoon AI Gives Underserved Athletes a Powerful New Tool
Peter Iwuh, a Morgan State University graduate, is reshaping the world of college sports. After founding Tykoon Sports Agency in 2023, the first Black-owned NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) marketing agency, he has now introduced a new platform: Tykoon AI.
The platform is designed to help overlooked athletes—especially those at HBCUs, smaller colleges, and lesser-known conferences—take control of their NIL opportunities. Athletes can now manage everything from content creation to merchandise sales and sponsorships in one place. As Iwuh explains, Tykoon AI is “built for athletes, trusted by schools, and scaled by brands.”
Closing the NIL Gap for Underrepresented Athletes
High-profile athletes at large universities often earn millions in NIL deals. For example, Shedeur Sanders reportedly earned $6 million while playing at Colorado. Yet the average NIL athlete earns only about $21,331 annually, with athletes at HBCUs and small schools making even less.
Tykoon AI helps close this gap. By giving underrepresented athletes tools to build their digital presence, connect with sponsors, and track their growth, the platform provides access to opportunities that were once out of reach. This is especially critical for students who may not have athletic departments pushing big deals their way.
Innovative Features Built Into Tykoon AI
The platform offers athletes a wide range of features. They can create fan merchandise, grow their social media, and reach out to both local and national brands. Tykoon AI’s interactive merchant map allows direct connections to nearby businesses, while its GamePlan AI generates creative ideas for brand partnerships and content.
Other tools include contract scanning for compliance, earnings tracking, and an AI-powered score system that measures performance. With these resources, athletes can focus less on paperwork and more on building lasting careers inside and outside sports.
Peter Iwuh’s Vision for Fairness in College Sports
For Iwuh, this mission is personal. “Being an individual of color who is faced with oppression, being a first-generation college student, and being raised in a single-mother household, it is a common experience to feel overlooked,” he told AfroTech.
He recalls watching student athletes at Morgan State turn to harmful paths because they lacked support. His goal is to ensure that young athletes no longer feel under-resourced or invisible. Tykoon AI, he says, is about “diversifying the options” and creating a pathway for athletes who otherwise might be ignored.
A Growing NIL Market and a New Direction
Since NIL rights were introduced, the industry has already grown into a billion-dollar market. Yet most of the funding flows to athletes at top schools and conferences. Iwuh believes this imbalance must change, and his platform is a step toward equity.
“While those are amazing numbers, the unfortunate reality is that most of those funds and resources are being allocated towards athletes at top conferences, top schools, and the top sports,” Iwuh said. “That’s why we’re building this platform to bring the opportunity to student athletes. We’re not waiting on the athletic departments anymore.”
