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

# Quickstart

> Get from zero to your first GOI result in the GOI dashboard, the API, or an AI agent.

ISTARI gives you three ways to work with the **Global Organization Index (GOI)**: a curated dataset of
\~20 million active, web-verified organizations across 232 countries. Pick the path that fits how you work.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="No code" icon="layout-dashboard" href="#use-the-goi-dashboard">
    Use the GOI dashboard to search, filter, and export.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API" icon="terminal" href="#use-the-api">
    Query GOI programmatically over HTTP.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI agent" icon="plug" href="#use-an-ai-agent">
    Connect GOI to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Create an account

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up">
    Create an account at [index.istari.ai](https://index.istari.ai). The same login works for the
    GOI dashboard, the API, and GOI MCP.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your path">
    Explore visually in the [GOI dashboard](/goi/dashboard), or generate an API key to go programmatic.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<h2 id="use-the-goi-dashboard">
  Use the GOI dashboard
</h2>

The fastest way to see what GOI can do. No setup required.

1. Sign in at [index.istari.ai](https://index.istari.ai).
2. Describe what you're looking for in the search bar, or switch to [keyword](/goi/keyword-search) or [similarity](/goi/similarity-search) search.
3. Narrow with [location](/goi/location-filters) and [organizational](/goi/organizational-filters) filters.
4. [Export](/goi/export-search-results) the results or save them as a [list](/goi/lists).

See the [GOI dashboard guide](/goi/dashboard) for the full walkthrough.

## Use the API

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get an API key">
    In the GOI dashboard, open [API keys](/goi/api-keys) and create a key. Keep it secret; it carries your plan's quota.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your first request">
    Send a `POST` to `/v2/search`. The API auto-detects the search mode from your inputs. No mode name needed.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash cURL theme={null}
      curl -X POST https://api.istari.ai/v2/search \
        -H "x-api-key: $ISTARI_API_KEY" \
        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
        -d '{
          "describe": "organizations that manufacture industrial heat pumps",
          "filters": { "country": ["Germany"] },
          "columns": ["domain", "name", "country"],
          "size": 25
        }'
      ```

      ```python Python theme={null}
      import os, requests

      resp = requests.post(
          "https://api.istari.ai/v2/search",
          headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["ISTARI_API_KEY"]},
          json={
              "describe": "organizations that manufacture industrial heat pumps",
              "filters": {"country": ["Germany"]},
              "columns": ["domain", "name", "country"],
              "size": 25,
          },
      )
      print(resp.json()["metadata"]["total"], "matches")
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read the response">
    Responses contain a `data` array of organization rows and a `metadata` object (total hits, mode, pagination cursor).
    See [Search](/api/goi-search) for every parameter and [Reference](/api/goi-reference) for columns, limits, and errors.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Use an AI agent

GOI MCP is in review for publication in connector stores, including Claude and ChatGPT. Until then, request beta access and connect from your MCP client.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Request beta access">
    Sign in at [index.istari.ai](https://index.istari.ai), then submit the [beta access request](https://index.istari.ai/goi-mcp-access). We enable approved accounts for early use.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect GOI MCP">
    After approval, add GOI MCP in Claude, Cursor, or another MCP client. See [Connect](/mcp/connect) for client-specific steps.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in">
    Authenticate with your `index.istari.ai` account when prompted.
  </Step>
</Steps>

See the [GOI MCP overview](/mcp/overview) for the available tools.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Search the API" icon="search" href="/api/goi-search">
    Keywords, semantic descriptions, similarity, filters, and pagination.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect an AI agent" icon="plug" href="/mcp/connect">
    Request beta access, then use GOI MCP with Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>