# pivot

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

> Pivot records a Decision that moves a Live Startup back to Building under a new Founding Hypothesis version.

Pivot records a [Decision](/business/nouns/decision) that moves a Live [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) back to Building under a new Founding Hypothesis version.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `startup` | [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) | Yes | The Live Startup. |
| `decision` | [Decision](/business/nouns/decision) | Yes | The pivot Decision, citing the Evidence behind it. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `startup` | [Startup](/business/nouns/startup) | Yes | The Startup, now Building. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Startup.pivoted`](/business/events/Startup.pivoted).
- Performed by the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder).
- One-way (customer): it waits out its delay window, and runs in the `send` and `do` modes.
- Bumps the Founding Hypothesis version; the pivot is the diff between the two versions.
- Recompiles Site copy, Offers, Prices, and Plays from the new version.
- Keeps serving existing Customers until each Offer they hold ends on its own terms.

## 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. | [Startup.pivot](/business/nouns/startup/pivot) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | High: one-way, broad (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 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
Pivot PatentPad with a decision.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/patentpad.com/startups/startup_1/pivot \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"decision":"decision_1"}'
```

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

**SDK**

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

const startup = await $.Startup.pivot({ startup: 'startup_1', decision: 'decision_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Startup.pivot --json '{"startup":"startup_1","decision":"decision_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Startup.pivot({ startup: 'startup_1', decision: 'decision_1' })"
  }
}
```