About NIL Payments

Built at the Intersection of Business and College Athletics

NIL Payments was created to connect businesses, universities, and student-athletes through a model that delivers value on every side. By turning everyday payment processing into a source of ongoing NIL support, we help businesses strengthen their operations while contributing to something bigger. Our approach is simple, scalable, and built on long-term partnerships that benefit both merchants and university programs.

A black-and-white icon featuring an arrow pointing upward through a circular target symbol.

Purpose-Driven Model

Turning everyday transactions into meaningful NIL support

A high-contrast black icon depicting two hands gripping each other's wrists in a display of unity or teamwork.

Built for Partnerships

Connecting businesses, universities, and student-athletes

Our Mission

Creating Sustainable NIL Opportunities Through Everyday Business

Our mission is to provide a smarter, more sustainable way to support student-athletes while helping businesses operate more efficiently. NIL Payments is designed to create consistent funding for NIL programs without adding complexity for merchants, making it easy to align business operations with university support.

Our Approach

Simple. Seamless. Built for Growth.

We focus on making the process as straightforward as possible. From onboarding to integration, our goal is to remove friction and deliver a solution that works within your existing operations. By combining payment optimization with partnership-driven benefits, NIL Payments creates a model that is easy to adopt and built to scale.

No Disruption

Integrates with existing systems whenever possible

Long-Term Value

Designed to grow with businesses and universities

Led by Experience on Both Sides of the Game

Hunter Gilliam

Founder & CEO, NIL Payments

Hunter Gilliam is the Founder and CEO of NIL Payments, where he leads the company’s growth, partnerships, and strategic direction. With several years of experience in payment processing and merchant services, he has helped businesses optimize payment systems, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.


A former All-SEC baseball player at the University of Kentucky, Hunter gained firsthand insight into the impact of NIL and the opportunity to build more sustainable solutions. He founded NIL Payments to connect universities, businesses, and athletes through a scalable platform that drives recurring revenue for NIL programs while delivering real value to merchants.



Hunter is focused on building strong partnerships and creating long-term value at the intersection of business and college athletics.

A smiling person in a light pink textured blazer and white dress shirt stands in a grassy field with trees in the back.
A smiling person in a light pink textured blazer and white dress shirt stands in a grassy field with trees in the back.

Founder & CEO, NIL Payments

Hunter Gilliam

Headshot of a smiling person wearing a navy blazer and a grey patterned button-down shirt against a neutral background.

Mid-Atlantic Partner, Evolv

Steve Harlar

Headshot of a smiling person wearing a navy blazer and a grey patterned button-down shirt against a neutral background.

Steve Harlar

Mid-Atlantic Partner, Evolv

Steve Harlar is a Mid-Atlantic partner at Evolv with over 20 years of experience in payment processing and merchant services. He works closely with businesses to optimize payment solutions, reduce costs, and drive growth. Through his partnership with NIL Payments, Steve helps deliver reliable, high-performing solutions that support both businesses and student-athletes.

Powered by Proven Payment Expertise

NIL Payments partners with Evolv, a trusted leader in payment processing with decades of experience supporting businesses across the country. Evolv provides the technology, infrastructure, and expertise that allow NIL Payments to deliver reliable, high-performing solutions.



Through this partnership, we are able to help businesses optimize payment systems, reduce unnecessary costs, and operate more efficiently while supporting NIL initiatives.

Reliable Technology

Backed by trusted payment processing infrastructure

Experienced Support

Guided by industry expertise and proven solutions

Building Something Bigger Than Transactions

NIL Payments is focused on creating lasting connections between businesses and universities while supporting the next generation of student-athletes. As we grow, our goal is to continue expanding partnerships, strengthening communities, and delivering value through every transaction.

The orange "fiserv." logo on a white background.
The Ingenico Group logo, featuring the gray lowercase word "ingenico" with a line above it, and the red word "GROUP" below.
The PAX logo featuring two interlocking rings in blue and navy, with "PAX" and the tagline "Empowering Digital Payments."
The Global Payments logo features a lowercase letter "g" in a dark blue circle, followed by the text "globalpayments".
The Clover logo: a four-leaf clover icon with a circular cutout next to the gray, lowercase text "clover."
Logo for Dejavoo Payment Software Solutions, featuring a multicolored umbrella icon above the brand name.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person wearing a grey blazer over a black zippered shirt, smiling against a light blue background.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person with gray hair and a beard, wearing glasses, a plaid vest, and a textured blazer against a light blue background.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person with long, curly brown hair wearing a light blue blazer and white top, arms crossed, against a pale blue background.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person with a beard and glasses, wearing a white shirt and dark blazer, sitting in a neutral-toned room with a plant.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person in a white button-down shirt writing on a notepad in a professional office setting.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person with short, dark hair wears a blue jacket over a yellow shirt, smiling while sitting behind a laptop.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person with dark curly hair in a high ponytail, wearing a dark blue striped shirt, looking directly at the camera.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

Smiling person in a white long-sleeved cutout top and black pants, sitting outdoors in front of a windowed building.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person with short, dark hair wears a blue jacket over a yellow shirt, smiling while sitting behind a laptop.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

A person with dark curly hair in a high ponytail, wearing a dark blue striped shirt, looking directly at the camera.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

Smiling person in a white long-sleeved cutout top and black pants, sitting outdoors in front of a windowed building.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

Smiling person in a white long-sleeved cutout top and black pants, sitting outdoors in front of a windowed building.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

Smiling person in a white long-sleeved cutout top and black pants, sitting outdoors in front of a windowed building.
Guy Hawkins

President of Sales

Smiling person in a white long-sleeved cutout top and black pants, sitting outdoors in front of a windowed building.