Quick answers to the most common questions. If you don't see yours here, email info@cognistrategy.com and we'll get back to you.
Getting started
Where do I get my invite code?
Your invite code comes from your mentor or the program admin when you enroll. Check your welcome email or text. If you can't find it, reach out to your mentor or email us at info@cognistrategy.com.
How do I link my parent and student accounts?
Both the parent and the student use the same invite code. Either one can enter it first — whoever signs up later is automatically linked to the other. The code is required to get into the app; there's no skip option.
I'm a parent — what can I see versus what stays private?
You can see your own student's submissions and progress. Students can't see each other's profiles or private videos — everything stays within your student, their mentor, and you.
My display name or username looks wrong — how do I fix it?
Your display name comes from what you entered at signup. Your username is the part of your email before the @ sign. You can update your display name from your profile in the app.
How do I get a better plan or more critiques?
Plan changes aren't done inside the app. Contact your program administrator, or email info@cognistrategy.com and we'll help you pick the right plan.
I forgot my password — what do I do?
On the sign-in screen, tap “Forgot password” and we'll email you a reset link. If the email doesn't arrive within a few minutes, check your spam folder or contact support.
Uploading videos
Why is my video taking so long to upload?
Larger and longer videos take more time. We compress the video on your device before upload to keep things as fast as possible. Staying on Wi-Fi will be noticeably quicker than cellular. Most uploads finish in a couple of minutes.
Do I need to keep the app open while uploading?
You can take phone calls, lock your screen, take screenshots, or switch apps — your upload keeps running in the background. The only thing that cancels an upload is force-quitting the app (swiping it away in the iPhone app switcher). If that happens, we'll let you know on your next launch and you can retry.
My upload said “didn't finish” — what happened?
The app was force-quit before the upload completed. Re-open the app, pick the same video, and submit again. Backgrounding the app or taking a call won't trigger this.
My video uploaded but won't play right after — why?
Right after upload, Cloudflare (the service that hosts the videos) processes your file for ~30-60 seconds. During that window, you'll see your own video play instantly because we keep a local copy. Other viewers may briefly see a placeholder until processing finishes. If a video still won't play after a couple of minutes, close and reopen the app.
The picker bounces back without selecting my video — what's wrong?
This usually means the video is stored in iCloud and hasn't been downloaded to your device yet. Open the Photos app, tap the video to download it to your phone first, then try uploading again. We'll show a hint when we detect this.
What does “Make this public” mean on the submit screen?
Public means your video is visible in the Feed to everyone inside the Blake McGrath mentorship community — other students, parents, and mentors in the app. It is not posted to the public internet or shared outside the app. Off means only you, your mentor, and your parent can see it. You choose every time you upload.
What's the difference between a weekly submission and a general post?
Weekly submissions are tied to your program week and get a mentor critique (on paid plans). General posts go to your profile and the public Feed — no critique attached. You can do either; submitting weekly is what unlocks mentor feedback.
Can I delete a post I made?
Yes. Open the post and tap the three-dot menu — you'll see a Delete option. This permanently removes the post, the video, and any comments on it.
Mentor critiques
When will my mentor reply to my critique?
Mentors typically respond within a few days. You'll get a notification in the app when your critique is ready. If it's been longer than a week, your mentor may be on a break — reach out to support and we'll check in.
Why is my Workbook locked?
The interactive workbook flow is in active development. You'll see the program weeks listed so you know what's coming, but the form for each week isn't open yet. We'll send a notification when it ships.
Community & safety
How do I report a post, comment, or user?
Every post, comment, and profile has a three-dot menu with a Report option. Pick the reason, add a note if you want, and submit. Our team reviews every report within 24 hours and acts on anything that violates community rules.
How do I block someone?
From the three-dot menu on their post or profile, choose Block. Blocked users disappear from your Feed, Tribe, and Profile views immediately. You can unblock them later from Settings → Blocked Users.
What counts as inappropriate content?
Harassment, hate speech, sexual content, violence, spam, scams, impersonation, and sharing other people's private information. The full list is in our Terms of Service.
Account & data
How do I delete my account?
From the Settings screen, tap “Delete account” and follow the steps. This permanently removes your profile, your videos, your posts, and your comments. See the deletion page for the full list of what's erased.
What data do you collect?
The short answer: account info (name, email), the videos and posts you create, and basic usage signals to keep the app running. The long answer is in our Privacy Policy.
Can I use the same account on a different phone?
Yes — sign in with the same email on the new device and everything you uploaded will be there. You can be signed in on multiple devices at the same time.
Still stuck?
Email us at info@cognistrategy.com with:
- What you were trying to do
- What happened instead
- Your phone model and iOS version (Settings → General → About)
That last one is the difference between a same-day fix and a week of back-and-forth — we promise we'll take care of you.