For agents & integrators

API reference

BACKD listings are queryable over REST and MCP. Responses are first-party catalog data: what is listed, conviction scores, and community verdicts. This is not a claim that a model cited or recommended a company.

MCP

No API key. Tools: search_startups, get_startup, list_categories.

claude mcp add backd --transport http https://backd.io/api/mcp

REST auth

Free tier. Send the key as Authorization: Bearer bd_live_… or X-Api-Key. CORS is open. Issue a key while signed in via POST /api/v1/keys. The raw secret is shown once.

curl "https://backd.io/api/v1/startups?query=ai&limit=5" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer bd_live_YOUR_KEY"

Endpoints

GET/api/v1/startupsAPI key

Params: query, category, sort (trending|conviction|name), limit

Search published listings. Same card shape as the MCP search_startups tool.

GET/api/v1/startups/:slugAPI key

Params: none

Full listing: conviction, backing, verdict history, public founder fields.

GET/api/v1/categoriesAPI key

Params: none

Controlled category vocabulary. Use slugs as the category filter.

POST/api/v1/keyssession

Params: JSON body { name? }

Signed-in session required. Returns the raw key once. Store it.

Founders: listing is still the product. Browse the catalog.