FAQ
Common questions,
direct answers.
What outdoor brands and creators ask before working with Cortex Influence. If you don't see your question here, email desk@cortexinfluence.com.
- What does Cortex Influence do?
- Cortex is a boutique talent agency that brokers paid creator-sponsorship deals between outdoor brands and outdoor-niche YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram creators in the 100K-1M follower range. We handle the full campaign — sourcing, contract, FTC-compliant brief, deliverable review, creator payment, and reporting. Brands pay one CPM-based fee; we run everything else.
- Who are your typical brand customers?
- Outdoor gear and apparel brands, RV and camping companies, boat and marine dealers, fishing tackle makers, and outdoor recreation apps in the $500K-$10M ARR range. Sweet spot is a launched product with a 5-80 person team. Categories: tents and shelters, packs and apparel, coolers and stoves, paddle and small craft, fishing tackle, overlanding gear, trail running, and outdoor booking apps.
- How does Cortex price campaigns?
- CPM-based with a guaranteed view floor and a paid-out view cap. A typical structure: a base fee paid on publish (equal to the floor times the CPM), plus a per-view performance tier between the floor and cap. The cap caps your spend; the floor protects against under-delivery. Pricing is tiered to the view target locked at signing — share your campaign goals and we'll quote the band.
- How does payment work?
- 50 percent deposit on Agreement signing, 50 percent net-15 from publish plus performance report. ACH, wire, or credit card (3 percent surcharge on credit). No retainer, no platform fees, no hidden agency invoice — total deal value is fixed at signing.
- What does FTC and ASA compliance look like in practice?
- We draft disclosure language for every integration that meets US FTC Endorsement Guides, UK ASA standards, and Australian AANA requirements. The brand reviews and approves disclosure copy in writing before publish. The brand is not liable for disclosure errors caused by Cortex or by creators deviating from approved copy.
- What creators does Cortex represent?
- Outdoor-native creators on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram in the 100,000 to 1,000,000 follower tier with audiences primarily in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. Niches include Camping, Hiking & Trail, Fishing, Boating, and Overlanding. Cortex operates a private roster — specific creator names are revealed only to brands that have signed an Agreement.
- Why a private roster instead of a public directory?
- Public roster pages train brands to optimize on follower count and train creators to negotiate against a published floor. We instead source for fit on every campaign — within 48 hours of a discovery call, brands receive a curated shortlist of two to four creators who actually match the product, audience, and budget.
- How long does a typical campaign take?
- Two to four weeks from signed Agreement to published video. Days 0-3: brief lock with the creator. Days 3-5: brand approves the brief. Days 5-10: production (often shot on a single weekend trip). Days 10-12: first-cut review. Then publish on the agreed date. Mid-campaign report at publish + 14 days; final reconciliation report at publish + 30 days.
- Can I work with Cortex from outside the US?
- Yes. Cortex is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and serves brands in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. Invoicing in USD, CAD, or GBP. Canadian brands are charged GST/HST in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency rules at the rate applicable to their province. US, UK, and AU brands are not charged Cortex tax — your local jurisdiction's rules apply.
- How do I become a Cortex creator?
- Apply via the Creators page at https://www.cortexinfluence.com/creators. Eligibility: 100K-1M followers on at least one of YouTube / TikTok / Instagram; outdoor recreation as primary content focus; at least 50 percent audience in US, CA, UK, or AU; consistent posting cadence for six-plus months; at least one prior brand sponsorship as a credibility signal.
- What is CPM with cap and floor?
- CPM (cost per thousand views) is the standard creator-sponsorship pricing unit. A view floor is the minimum reach the brand pays for. A view cap is the maximum the brand pays out — if the video overperforms, extra views are free. The model gives the brand predictable cost and gives the creator upside for delivering against the campaign view target.
Still curious?
Email us directly.
One business day reply window. No pitch deck, no script. Just tell us what you’re trying to do.
desk@cortexinfluence.com