Fans now can put up money to entice specific athletes to join or stay with favorite college teams

College sports fans hoping a particular athlete comes to their favorite school, or stays, now can help influence the athlete’s decision by opening their wallets.

What once was taboo has gone mainstream with the recent launch of a crowdfunding platform called Fanstake.

“What we’re trying to do is create a free market,” Fanstake CEO Greg Glass said Tuesday. “We feel like the part that’s missing in NIL is the democratization of it, where the kids hopefully see their fair market value based on the demand and it makes it a little easier for your retail fan to participate where it’s no risk.