# engage

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

> Engage records a Prospect’s first reply or raised hand and makes it a Lead that keeps its Acquisition.

Engage records a [Prospect](/business/nouns/prospect)’s first reply or raised hand and makes it a [Lead](/business/nouns/lead) that keeps its [Acquisition](/business/nouns/acquisition).

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `prospect` | [Prospect](/business/nouns/prospect) | Yes | The Prospect that replied or raised a hand. |
| `message` | [Message](/business/nouns/message) | No | The reply or Form submission that shows the engagement. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `lead` | [Lead](/business/nouns/lead) | Yes | The new Lead, with status `new` and the Prospect’s Acquisition. |
| `prospect` | [Prospect](/business/nouns/prospect) | Yes | The Prospect who engaged. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Prospect.engaged`](/business/events/Prospect.engaged).
- Performed by the [Prospector](/agents/sales/prospector).
- Two-way: it runs at once, in the `try`, `send` and `do` modes.
- Ends outreach to the Prospect: no further Sequence step sends.
- Links the Lead to the Prospect’s Acquisition.

## 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. | [Prospect.engage](/business/nouns/prospect/engage) |

## 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
Engage the prospect Priya Natarajan.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/prospects/prospect_1/engage \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY"
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com",
  "lead": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/leads/lead_1",
    "$type": "Lead",
    "status": "new"
  },
  "prospect": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/prospects/prospect_1",
    "$type": "Prospect",
    "foundIn": "Example found in",
    "basis": "Example basis"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Prospect.engage",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

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

const { lead, prospect } = await $.Prospect.engage({ prospect: 'prospect_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Prospect.engage --json '{"prospect":"prospect_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Prospect.engage({ prospect: 'prospect_1' })"
  }
}
```