# approve

URL: /business/nouns/approval/approve · Id: `verb:Approval.approve` · Call: `await $.Approval.approve({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Approve allows the pending Action an Approval holds, and that Action runs.

Approve allows the pending [Action](/business/nouns/action) an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) holds, and that Action runs.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `approval` | [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) | Yes | The open Approval. |
| `note` | `text` | No | Why it is approved. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `approval` | [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) | Yes | The approved Approval. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Approval.approved`](/business/events/Approval.approved).
- Performed by the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder).
- Guards run first, then Evaluators where a Policy enables them, and a Human approves only above the stakes threshold.
- Counts a chat press only from an account linked to a Human who holds the Permission for the Action’s scope.
- Records the first valid answer; the chat card updates in place, and a later press returns that verdict.
- Asks the approver to sign in first when a one-way Action is at or above the stakes threshold.
- Records the answer as an Action via chat, with the message it came from.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Approval.approve](/business/nouns/approval/approve) |
| The record is not in a state that allows this Verb, so the call is refused. | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Read the record, run the Verb that moves it to an allowed state, then retry. | [Approval.approve](/business/nouns/approval/approve) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Approve the latest approval.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/approvals/approval_1/approve \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY"
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com",
  "approval": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/approvals/approval_1",
    "$type": "Approval",
    "status": "pending",
    "mode": "try"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Approval.approve",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const approval = await $.Approval.approve({ approval: 'approval_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Approval.approve --json '{"approval":"approval_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Approval.approve({ approval: 'approval_1' })"
  }
}
```

Guides that call it: [Approve what agents spend](/agents/approve-what-agents-spend), [Answer an approval](/agents/answer-an-approval).