> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.projexdesk.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# mFoundry Quick Start: Your First API Call in Minutes

> Create your mFoundry account, generate your first API key, and make a live API call to the projects endpoint — all in under five minutes.

This quickstart walks you through everything you need to go from zero to your first successful mFoundry API call. By the end, you'll have a verified account, a working API key, and a clear view of your projects dashboard — all in under five minutes.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

* An **mFoundry account** — if you don't have one yet, follow the [Account Setup](/getting-started/account-setup) guide first.
* A **terminal** with `curl` available (or any HTTP client of your choice).

## Getting Started

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Your Account">
    Navigate to [app.mfoundry.io/signup](https://app.mfoundry.io/signup) and fill in your name, email address, and a strong password. After submitting the form, mFoundry sends a verification email to the address you provided — click the link inside to activate your account before moving on.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate an API Key">
    Once your account is active, log in and open the **Settings** menu from the top-right navigation. Select **API Keys**, then click **New API Key**. Give the key a descriptive name (for example, `quickstart-key`) and choose an optional expiry date. Click **Create** and copy the key immediately — mFoundry displays it only once for security reasons.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make Your First API Call">
    With your API key in hand, run the following command in your terminal, replacing `<your_api_key>` with the key you just copied:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -H "Authorization: Bearer <your_api_key>" \
         https://api.mfoundry.io/v1/projects
    ```

    A successful response returns a JSON object containing your projects array:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "data": {
        "projects": [
          {
            "id": "proj_01hxyz",
            "name": "My First Project",
            "slug": "my-first-project",
            "created_at": "2024-05-01T10:00:00Z"
          }
        ]
      },
      "meta": {
        "total": 1,
        "page": 1,
        "per_page": 20
      }
    }
    ```

    If you see a `401 Unauthorized` response, double-check that you've pasted the full token and that the `Authorization` header is formatted correctly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Explore the Dashboard">
    Log in to [app.mfoundry.io](https://app.mfoundry.io) to see your projects visually. The dashboard gives you a real-time view of all your workflows, recent activity, and notifications. From here you can create new projects, configure integrations, and manage your team — everything in one place.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Keep your API keys secure. Never commit them to version control or share them in public channels. If a key is ever exposed, revoke it immediately from **Settings > API Keys** and generate a new one.
</Note>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Account Setup" icon="user" href="/getting-started/account-setup">
    Learn how to verify your email, create an organization, and configure your profile settings.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Authentication" icon="key" href="/getting-started/authentication">
    Understand how Bearer token authentication works and how to rotate or revoke your API keys.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>