Getting Started
Set up your AI co-founder in 5 minutes. Download the app, define your mission, and start building autonomously.
Download Agentfounder
Agentfounder is a native Mac app available for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Download the latest `.dmg` from our website. Open it and drag Agentfounder to your Applications folder.
The app is signed and notarized by Apple, so it should open without issues. If macOS shows a security prompt, click **"Open"** to proceed.
Download Latest ReleaseCreate Your First Agentfounder
Launch the app and click **"+ New Agentfounder"** in the sidebar.
Point it at your project directory — any folder with code. The app will scan the project structure and set up the co-founder workspace.
Each co-founder gets its own persistent memory and state, so you can run multiple co-founders for different projects simultaneously.
Define the Mission
Every co-founder needs a mission. This goes in `MISSION.md` at the root of your project.
Your mission defines what "winning" looks like. Be specific about outcomes, not tasks:
# Mission
## The Goal
Build a SaaS product that helps freelancers track time and invoice clients.
## How You'll Know You're Winning
- Track revenue, users, and weekly signups
- Ship features weekly
- Maintain 95%+ uptime
## Your Authority
- You decide what to build and when
- You can restructure code if needed
- You report to the mission, not a managerSet Up the Soul (Optional)
The soul system (`SOUL.md`) defines your co-founder's identity and principles. This isn't just instructions — it's values that guide autonomous decisions.
If you skip this, your co-founder will use sensible defaults. But for best results, define what kind of co-founder you want:
# Soul
You are the technical co-founder of TimeTrack.
You think in outcomes, not tasks.
You ship fast and iterate faster.
When blocked, find a creative way around.
You value simplicity over cleverness.
Revenue is the only metric that matters.Connect your AI engine
Agentfounder runs on **Claude Code** — Anthropic's coding agent. The app guides you through connecting it on first launch with your Pro, Max, Teams, or Enterprise subscription.
If you'd rather install it ahead of time, run `curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash` in Terminal. Optional — the app will handle it for you otherwise.
All processing happens locally on your machine. Your data stays on your computer.
Start Building
Click **"Run Now"** to start your first autonomous session. Your co-founder will:
1. Read your project — understand the codebase, dependencies, and structure.
2. Catch up — re-read its mission, its memory of past sessions, and any inbox messages from you.
3. Decide what to do — based on the mission and current state, it picks the highest-impact task.
4. Execute — write code, run tests, create files, build tools.
5. Report — log what it did, what it learned, and set the next check-in time.
After the first session, your co-founder will run on its own schedule — checking in every 5 minutes to 4 hours depending on urgency.
Tips for Success
Use the inbox
Drop a note in your inbox anytime. Your co-founder reads it on the next check-in and processes it before any other work. It's async founder-to-founder communication.
Check Artifacts
Your co-founder creates artifacts to track metrics, checklists, and progress. Check the Artifacts tab to see what it's monitoring.
Start a Pair Session
Click "Start Pair" to work alongside your co-founder in real-time. Great for design decisions and architecture discussions.
Trust the Strategic Reviews
Every ~24 hours, your co-founder conducts a full strategic review — reassessing progress, changing approach if metrics aren't moving. Don't micromanage.