# graduate

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

> Graduate moves a Startup to a Company of its own, with its Customers, Domains and records intact.

Graduate moves a [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) to a [Company](/business/nouns/company) of its own, with its [Customers](/business/nouns/customer), [Domains](/business/nouns/domain) and records intact.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `startup` | [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) | Yes | The Startup to graduate. |
| `company` | [Company](/business/nouns/company) | Yes | The Company that holds it next. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `startup` | [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) | Yes | The Startup, held by its new Company. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Startup.graduated`](/business/events/Startup.graduated).
- Performed by the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder).
- One-way (money, customer): it waits out its delay window, and runs in the `send` and `do` modes.
- Changes the Company that holds the Startup.
- Keeps its address, Customers and Subscriptions.
- Requires a human signature, because it moves equity.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Company of its own (`graduate-company`) | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | A company of its own holds the Startup, with its Brand, Customers, and records moved intact. | None. |
| 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. | [Startup.graduate](/business/nouns/startup/graduate) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | High: one-way, broad (money, customer) |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | 1 business day, in which a watcher can pause, redirect or cancel it; then it runs. |
| Limit | The spend [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) or [Mandate](/business/nouns/mandate) 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
Graduate Kiln Bakery with a company.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/startups/startup_1/graduate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"company":"company_1"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com",
  "startup": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/startups/startup_1",
    "$type": "Startup",
    "name": "Kiln Bakery"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Startup.graduate",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

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

const startup = await $.Startup.graduate({ startup: 'startup_1', company: 'company_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Startup.graduate --json '{"startup":"startup_1","company":"company_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Startup.graduate({ startup: 'startup_1', company: 'company_1' })"
  }
}
```