# brake

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

> Brake stops one class of effects, such as sends, spend, publishes, or price changes, across a Portfolio query until it expires or is lifted.

Brake stops one class of effects, such as sends, spend, publishes, or price changes, across a [Portfolio](/business/nouns/portfolio) query until it expires or is lifted.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `portfolio` | [Portfolio](/business/nouns/portfolio) | Yes | The Portfolio whose Startups the brake covers. |
| `effects` | `string[]` | Yes | Any of `send`, `spend`, `publish`, and `price`. |
| `reason` | `text` | Yes | Why the effects stop. |
| `until` | `datetime` | Yes | When the brake expires. |
| `query` | `string` | No | Narrows the brake to the Startups that match, such as one Startup Template Version or one Cohort. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `brake` | [Setting](/business/nouns/setting) | Yes | The brake, held as a Setting that every matching Startup inherits. |
| `portfolio` | [Portfolio](/business/nouns/portfolio) | Yes | The Portfolio under the brake. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Portfolio.braked`](/business/events/Portfolio.braked).
- Holds every new Action of a braked effect as `pending` until the brake ends; nothing already `done` is undone.
- Records a Decision with the reason.

## 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. | [Portfolio.brake](/business/nouns/portfolio/brake) |

## 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
Brake the latest portfolio.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/portfolios/portfolio_1/brake \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"effects":["send"],"reason":"Example reason","until":"2026-10-22T12:00:00Z"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com",
  "brake": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/settings/setting_1",
    "$type": "Setting",
    "key": "Example key",
    "value": {}
  },
  "portfolio": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/portfolios/portfolio_1",
    "$type": "Portfolio",
    "id": "Example id",
    "type": [
      "noun_1"
    ]
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Portfolio.brake",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

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

const { brake, portfolio } = await $.Portfolio.brake({ portfolio: 'portfolio_1', effects: ['send'], reason: 'Example reason', until: '2026-10-22T12:00:00Z' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Portfolio.brake --json '{"portfolio":"portfolio_1","effects":["send"],"reason":"Example reason","until":"2026-10-22T12:00:00Z"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Portfolio.brake({ portfolio: 'portfolio_1', effects: ['send'], reason: 'Example reason', until: '2026-10-22T12:00:00Z' })"
  }
}
```