Getting started as an athlete
Redeem your invite, create your account through Clerk, then browse and apply right away. Only payout setup needs verification, and that comes later.
You join through an invite, create your account, and start browsing and applying to programs right away. No code goes in your bio: a brand approves you, you accept the program, and you get a tracking link. The one verification step comes later, only when a brand has approved you and you set up payouts.
You earn the commission the brand sets, in full. The 20% platform fee is billed to the brand, so it is never taken out of your payout.
The three steps to get started
| Step | What you do | What it opens up |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Redeem your invite | Open your invite link and confirm your email. | Lets you create your account. |
| 2. Create your account | Sign up through Clerk with the invited email. | Gets you into the athlete portal. |
| 3. Browse and apply | Find programs for brands you use, then apply. | Starts the two-way approval. |
Step 1: redeem your invite
For the launch cohort, joining is invite-only. We hand-pick the first athletes and email each one a single-use invite link.
A few things to know about the link:
- It is tied to your email. The invite is bound to the address we sent it to, so create your account with that same email.
- It works once. Each link is single-use, so redeem it on the device you plan to use.
- It expires in 30 days. If yours has lapsed, reply to the invite email and we will send a fresh one.
Why invite-only for now
We are starting with a small, curated group of athletes for our first brand cohort. That is a deliberate choice, not a waitlist tactic. Open signup turns on once we are live with more brands.
Step 2: create your account through Clerk
Your invite link takes you to signup, which runs on Clerk. Use the email your invite was sent to, since the invite is bound to it. You will verify your email (and your phone) as part of signup. That is all it takes to get into the athlete portal.
You do not give us any bank or tax details here. Payout setup is a separate step that comes later, and only when a brand has approved you.
Step 3: browse programs and apply
Once you are in, browsing and applying are unblocked right away. You do not have to finish anything else first.
- Browse the catalog. Each program shows the real terms up front: the commission the brand sets, the attribution window, and the program terms you would accept.
- Apply where you are a genuine fit. Brands curate for relevance, not the largest audience, so apply to brands you use and back.
- Approval is two-way. A brand approves you, and you accept the program. Either side can pass, so it is a real match, not a numbers game.
For what to do before you apply and what brands look for, see completing your profile and applying to programs.
What needs verification, and when
Only one thing is gated: getting paid. Identity verification (KYC) happens the first time a brand approves you and you set up payouts, not at signup.
- Browsing and applying: no verification needed.
- Getting your first payout: identity verification required, once.
Verification runs through Stripe Connect. Stripe handles your ID and bank details; we never see or store them. We will never ask you to paste a code in your bio to prove who you are. For the full walkthrough, see identity verification and KYC.
You are not behind if you skip verification now
There is no rush to verify before you have a brand approval. Apply first. When a brand approves you and you are ready to get paid, we will walk you through Stripe setup then.
How you get paid, once you are set up
So there are no surprises later, here is the money path in full:
- You earn the commission the brand sets, in full. A flat dollar amount or a flat percentage, decided by the brand per program. The 20% platform fee is billed to the brand, never deducted from you.
- Payouts run automatically through Stripe Connect. Once your brand's monthly invoice clears, we pay out daily, with a $25 minimum; balances under that roll forward. On December 15 we pay out any remaining balance regardless of the minimum.
- We issue your 1099-NEC automatically at year-end if your earnings clear the IRS threshold.
FAQ
How do I get an invite?
During the launch cohort, invites come from the Harmonia team. We hand-pick the first athletes and email each one a single-use invite link. If a brand you work with wants to bring you on, they can ask us to send you one. We don't have a public signup form open yet.
Can I sign up without one yet?
Not during the launch cohort. Onboarding is invite-only right now, so you need a valid invite link to create your account. Open signup will turn on once we're live with more brands. Until then, an invite is the only way in.
What can I do before verifying?
Almost everything. Browsing programs and applying to them are unblocked from day one, so you can find brands you use and apply right away. Only getting paid is gated by identity verification, and that step comes later, the first time a brand approves you and you set up payouts.