# suggest

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

> Suggest records a Customer’s ask for something the Product lacks as Evidence on a Problem, with the asker attached.

Suggest records a [Customer](/business/nouns/customer)’s ask for something the [Product](/business/nouns/product) lacks as [Evidence](/business/nouns/evidence) on a [Problem](/business/nouns/problem), with the asker attached.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `text` | `text` | Yes | The ask, in the asker’s words. |
| `problem` | [Problem](/business/nouns/problem) | No | The Problem it bears on; an Agent maps it when the asker names none. |
| `via` | `string` | No | Where it was asked: an App, the Portal, or an Agent’s answer. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `evidence` | [Evidence](/business/nouns/evidence) | Yes | The Evidence, Opinion grade, with `askedBy` set. |
| `problem` | [Problem](/business/nouns/problem) | Yes | The Problem with the new Evidence attached. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Problem.suggested`](/business/events/Problem.suggested).
- Two-way: it runs at once, in the `try`, `send` and `do` modes.
- Raises the Evidence to Commitment when the asker reserves or pays for what they asked.

## 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. | [Problem.suggest](/business/nouns/problem/suggest) |

## 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
Suggest the latest problem.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/routewise.dev/problems/suggest \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"text":"Example text"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/routewise.dev",
  "evidence": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/routewise.dev/evidence/evidence_1",
    "$type": "Evidence",
    "grade": "Behavior"
  },
  "problem": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/routewise.dev/problems/problem_1",
    "$type": "Problem",
    "statement": "Plans delivery routes for courier fleets through an API."
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/routewise.dev/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Problem.suggest",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/routewise.dev/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

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

const { evidence, problem } = await $.Problem.suggest({ text: 'Example text' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Problem.suggest --json '{"text":"Example text"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Problem.suggest({ text: 'Example text' })"
  }
}
```