C-Corp Founder Journey

A complete walkthrough of incorporating a Delaware C-Corp, issuing founder shares, signing documents, opening a bank account, and setting up governance — shown across all three interfaces.

Every tab shows the same operation. Pick whichever interface fits your workflow.

1. Form the C-Corp

corp form
# Interactive wizard prompts for:
#   Entity name: Acme AI Inc
#   Entity type: c_corp
#   Jurisdiction: DE

# Or non-interactive:
corp form --name "Acme AI Inc" --type c_corp --jurisdiction DE

The CLI returns the entity ID, formation status, and lists the generated documents (Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws).

curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "form_entity",
    "params": {
      "entity_name": "Acme AI Inc",
      "entity_type": "c_corp",
      "jurisdiction": "DE"
    }
  }'

Response:

{
  "receipt_id": "rct_a1b2c3",
  "entity_id": "ent_abc123",
  "status": "formed",
  "documents": [
    {"id": "doc_001", "title": "Certificate of Incorporation"},
    {"id": "doc_002", "title": "Bylaws"}
  ],
  "cap_table": {
    "authorized_shares": 10000000,
    "share_class": "common"
  }
}

In Claude Desktop (or any MCP-compatible agent):

“Form a Delaware C-Corp called Acme AI Inc”

The agent calls form_entity:

{
  "entity_name": "Acme AI Inc",
  "entity_type": "c_corp",
  "jurisdiction": "DE"
}

Returns entity ID, formation documents, and an authorized share pool of 10,000,000 common shares.

2. Add founders as contacts

corp contacts add --name "Jane Smith" --email [email protected] --role founder
corp contacts add --name "Bob Chen" --email [email protected] --role founder

curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/contacts \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "Jane Smith", "email": "[email protected]", "role": "founder"}'

curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/contacts \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "Bob Chen", "email": "[email protected]", "role": "founder"}'

3. Issue founder shares

Issue 6,000,000 shares to Jane (60%) and 4,000,000 to Bob (40%) from the 10M authorized pool.

corp cap-table issue-equity ent_abc123 \
  --type common --shares 6000000 --recipient "Jane Smith"

corp cap-table issue-equity ent_abc123 \
  --type common --shares 4000000 --recipient "Bob Chen"

Verify:

corp cap-table show ent_abc123

Acme AI Inc — Cap Table
──────────────────────────────────────
Holder         Class    Shares    %
──────────────────────────────────────
Jane Smith     Common   6,000,000  60.0%
Bob Chen       Common   4,000,000  40.0%
──────────────────────────────────────
Total issued: 10,000,000 / 10,000,000 authorized

# Issue to Jane
curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "issue_equity",
    "params": {
      "entity_id": "ent_abc123",
      "grant_type": "common",
      "shares": 6000000,
      "recipient_name": "Jane Smith"
    }
  }'

# Issue to Bob
curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "issue_equity",
    "params": {
      "entity_id": "ent_abc123",
      "grant_type": "common",
      "shares": 4000000,
      "recipient_name": "Bob Chen"
    }
  }'

# Verify
curl https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/entities/ent_abc123/cap-table \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY"

“Issue 6 million common shares in Acme AI Inc to Jane Smith, and 4 million to Bob Chen”

The agent calls issue_equity twice, then get_cap_table to confirm:

Acme AI Inc — Cap Table
Jane Smith: 6,000,000 shares (60.0%)
Bob Chen:   4,000,000 shares (40.0%)

4. Sign formation documents

Both founders sign the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

corp documents sign doc_001 --signer "Jane Smith" --role director
corp documents sign doc_001 --signer "Bob Chen" --role director
corp documents sign doc_002 --signer "Jane Smith" --role director
corp documents sign doc_002 --signer "Bob Chen" --role director

# Sign Certificate of Incorporation
curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "sign_document",
    "params": {
      "document_id": "doc_001",
      "signer_name": "Jane Smith",
      "signer_role": "director"
    }
  }'

# Repeat for Bob and for doc_002 (Bylaws)

“Sign all formation documents for Acme AI Inc. Jane Smith and Bob Chen are both directors.”

The agent calls sign_document four times — both founders on both documents.

5. Open a bank account

corp finance open-account ent_abc123

The system auto-assembles the KYB package from signed formation documents.

curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "open_bank_account",
    "params": {
      "entity_id": "ent_abc123"
    }
  }'

“Open a business bank account for Acme AI Inc”

The agent calls open_bank_account — formation docs are auto-bundled for KYB verification.

6. Set up the board of directors

Convene the initial board meeting to approve the equity plan and appoint officers.

# Convene
corp governance convene ent_abc123 \
  --type board \
  --title "Initial Board Meeting" \
  --agenda "Approve equity incentive plan" \
  --agenda "Appoint Jane Smith as CEO" \
  --agenda "Appoint Bob Chen as CTO"

# Vote (both directors approve all items)
corp governance vote mtg_001 --item 0 --voter "Jane Smith" --decision approve
corp governance vote mtg_001 --item 0 --voter "Bob Chen" --decision approve
corp governance vote mtg_001 --item 1 --voter "Jane Smith" --decision approve
corp governance vote mtg_001 --item 1 --voter "Bob Chen" --decision approve
corp governance vote mtg_001 --item 2 --voter "Jane Smith" --decision approve
corp governance vote mtg_001 --item 2 --voter "Bob Chen" --decision approve

# Convene the meeting
curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "convene_meeting",
    "params": {
      "entity_id": "ent_abc123",
      "meeting_type": "board",
      "title": "Initial Board Meeting",
      "agenda_items": [
        "Approve equity incentive plan",
        "Appoint Jane Smith as CEO",
        "Appoint Bob Chen as CTO"
      ]
    }
  }'

# Cast votes (repeat for each director x agenda item)
curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "cast_vote",
    "params": {
      "meeting_id": "mtg_001",
      "agenda_item_index": 0,
      "voter_name": "Jane Smith",
      "decision": "approve"
    }
  }'

“Convene an initial board meeting for Acme AI Inc. Agenda: approve the equity plan, appoint Jane as CEO, and Bob as CTO. Both directors approve everything.”

The agent calls convene_meeting then cast_vote six times (2 directors x 3 items).

7. Generate an NDA for a potential partner

corp documents generate ent_abc123 --template nda --counterparty "Widget Corp"

curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "generate_contract",
    "params": {
      "entity_id": "ent_abc123",
      "template": "nda",
      "counterparty_name": "Widget Corp",
      "governing_law": "DE"
    }
  }'

“Generate an NDA between Acme AI Inc and Widget Corp”

The agent calls generate_contract with template: "nda".

8. Track compliance deadlines

corp tax deadline ent_abc123 --type annual_report
corp tax deadline ent_abc123 --type franchise_tax
corp obligations

curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "track_deadline",
    "params": {
      "entity_id": "ent_abc123",
      "deadline_type": "annual_report",
      "jurisdiction": "DE"
    }
  }'

# View all obligations
curl https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/obligations \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY"

“Set up compliance tracking for Acme AI Inc — annual report and franchise tax deadlines for Delaware”

The agent calls track_deadline twice, then confirms the deadlines appear in the obligations list.

9. Create an invoice

First client engagement — invoice Widget Corp for consulting.

corp finance invoice ent_abc123 \
  --to "Widget Corp" \
  --amount 1500000 \
  --description "Strategic consulting — January 2026"

curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/intents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action": "create_invoice",
    "params": {
      "entity_id": "ent_abc123",
      "client_name": "Widget Corp",
      "amount_cents": 1500000,
      "description": "Strategic consulting — January 2026",
      "due_days": 30
    }
  }'

“Create a $15,000 invoice from Acme AI Inc to Widget Corp for strategic consulting in January 2026, due in 30 days”

The agent calls create_invoice.

10. Create an agent to monitor compliance

Set up an autonomous agent that watches deadlines and reminds you before they’re due.

corp agents create \
  --name "Compliance Monitor" \
  --prompt "Monitor all compliance deadlines for Acme AI Inc. Alert when deadlines are within 30 days." \
  --model claude-sonnet-4-6

corp agents skill AGENT_ID --add compliance_monitoring

curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/agents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "Compliance Monitor",
    "system_prompt": "Monitor all compliance deadlines for Acme AI Inc. Alert when deadlines are within 30 days.",
    "model": "claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "entity_id": "ent_abc123"
  }'

# Add skill
curl -X POST https://api.thecorporation.ai/v1/agents/AGENT_ID/skills \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CORP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"skill": "compliance_monitoring"}'

“Create an agent called Compliance Monitor that watches all deadlines for Acme AI Inc and alerts me when anything is due within 30 days. Give it the compliance monitoring skill.”

The agent calls create_agent then add_agent_skill.

Summary

Here’s everything we set up in this walkthrough:

Step	What happened	Receipt
1	Formed Acme AI Inc (Delaware C-Corp)	`rct_...`
2	Added Jane Smith & Bob Chen as founder contacts	`rct_...`
3	Issued 6M shares to Jane, 4M to Bob	`rct_...`
4	Signed Certificate of Incorporation & Bylaws	`rct_...`
5	Opened business bank account (auto-KYB)	`rct_...`
6	Held initial board meeting, appointed officers	`rct_...`
7	Generated NDA for Widget Corp partnership	`rct_...`
8	Set up annual report & franchise tax deadlines	`rct_...`
9	Invoiced Widget Corp $15,000	`rct_...`
10	Created Compliance Monitor agent	`rct_...`

Every action produced a hash-bound receipt. Every receipt is immutable and auditable. The same governance kernel processed all of them — regardless of whether you used the CLI, API, or MCP.

What’s next?

MCP Tool Reference — full parameter docs for every tool
CLI Command Reference — every command and flag
API Endpoints — complete REST reference
Getting Started: Agent-first — four tool calls to an LLC
Getting Started: Human-first — TUI walkthrough