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

# Quickstart

> Get access, authenticate, and make your first request to the Specter API.

Get your API key and make your first request to the Specter API.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get your API key">
    Your API key lives in the [API Console](https://app.tryspecter.com/settings/api-console). Open it and copy your key. No key yet? Click **Request API Access** there — requests are reviewed and approved within one business day. Send the key in the `X-API-Key` header on every request.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your first request">
    Search for a company by name:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl --request GET \
      --url 'https://app.tryspecter.com/api/v1/companies/search?query=hedgehog' \
      --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY'
    ```

    Response:

    ```json theme={null}
    [
      {
        "id": "1a2b3c4d5e6g1a2b3c4d5e6g",
        "name": "Hedgehog Analytics",
        "domain": "hedgehog_analytics.com",
        "founded_year": 2019
      }
    ]
    ```

    If you receive a response, your API key is working.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fetch the full profile">
    Use the returned `id` to retrieve the full company record:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl --request GET \
      --url https://app.tryspecter.com/api/v1/companies/1a2b3c4d5e6g1a2b3c4d5e6g \
      --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY'
    ```

    Response:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "id": "1a2b3c4d5e6g1a2b3c4d5e6g",
      "organization_name": "Hedgehog Analytics",
      "website": {
        "domain": "hedgehog_analytics.com",
        "url": "https://www.hedgehog_analytics.com"
      },
      "hq": { "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" },
      "employee_count": 39,
      "funding": {
        "total_funding_usd": 16600000,
        "last_funding_type": "series_a"
      },
      "last_updated": "2026-01-01"
    }
    ```

    <Note>
      See [Rate Limits & Credit Limits](/api-ref/rate_limits) for your allowances and [Errors](/api-ref/errors) for what happens when you run out.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

From here, you can expand into related data — team, investors, transactions — using the returned company `id`.