# escalate

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

> Escalate moves a Task to the Role its current Role escalates to, with the reason attached.

Escalate moves a [Task](/business/nouns/task) to the [Role](/business/nouns/role) its current Role escalates to, with the reason attached.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `task` | [Task](/business/nouns/task) | Yes | The Task to escalate. |
| `reason` | `text` | Yes | Why the current Role cannot finish it. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `task` | [Task](/business/nouns/task) | Yes | The Task, assigned upward. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Task.escalated`](/business/events/Task.escalated).
- Performed by the [Operations Lead](/agents/operations/operations-lead).
- Keeps the Task’s history and due time.

## 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. | [Task.escalate](/business/nouns/task/escalate) |
| The record is not in a state that allows this Verb, so the call is refused. | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Read the record, run the Verb that moves it to an allowed state, then retry. | [Task.escalate](/business/nouns/task/escalate) |

## 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
Escalate the latest task.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/tasks/task_1/escalate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"reason":"Example reason"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app",
  "task": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/tasks/task_1",
    "$type": "Task",
    "status": "pending",
    "mode": "try"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Task.escalate",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

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

const task = await $.Task.escalate({ task: 'task_1', reason: 'Example reason' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Task.escalate --json '{"task":"task_1","reason":"Example reason"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Task.escalate({ task: 'task_1', reason: 'Example reason' })"
  }
}
```