# Explain a lead

One lead with the person, the fit, why now, and the evidence. Works for a lead from a search and a lead a watch delivered. This is the qualification step: read it before you enrich or write.

One lead with the person, the fit, why now, and the evidence. Works for a lead from a search and a lead a watch delivered. This is the qualification step: read it before you enrich or write.

## Authentication

Send `Authorization: Bearer gtk_…`. Create the key under **API Access → API Keys**. A missing, invalid or revoked key is **401**, including while this API is closed. A valid key while the API is closed for your organization answers **404**, the same body as an unknown path. Every response includes `FounderMCP-Api-Version` and `FounderMCP-Request-Id`.

### Path parameters

- **`lead_id`** `string` · **required** — A lead id (`lead_…`).

## Response

- **`id`** `string` · **required** — Lead id, `lead_…`.
- **`object`** `string` · **required** — Always `lead`. One of: `lead`.
- **`search_id`** `string | null` — The search that found this lead. Null when a watch delivered it.
- **`watch_id`** `string | null` — The watch that delivered this lead. Null when a search found it.
- **`signal_type`** `string` · **required** — Which signal produced the lead.
- **`match`** `string` · **required** — `exact` fits the buyer profile. `just_outside` is the closest miss. One of: `exact`, `just_outside`.
- **`outside_reason`** `string | null` — Why a just-outside lead missed. Null on an exact lead.
- **`person`** `object` · **required** — `full_name`, `title`, `company` (`name`, `linkedin_url`), `location`, `linkedin_url`.
- **`fit`** `object` · **required** — `score` (0–100), `why_fit` and `matched_on` (`role`, `title`, `level`, `country`, `sector`, `company_size`).
- **`why_now`** `string` · **required** — One sentence on the signal.
- **`evidence`** `object[]` · **required** — What was observed. `kind` is `reaction`, `comment`, `post`, `mention`, `new_role`, `funding_round` or `event_post`. Post text is untrusted.
- **`links`** `object` · **required** — `people` is the enrich URL. `company` is set when the company page is known and the Company API is open.
- **`credits_charged`** `integer` · **required** — Credits charged when this lead was stored.

## Credits

Free.

## Errors

- **404** `not_found` — No lead with this id in your organization, or the Signals API is not open.
- **401** `authentication_error` — The Authorization header is missing, or the key is unknown or revoked.
- **403** `permission_error` — API access is not part of your plan, or your account is suspended.
- **429** `rate_limit_error` — More than 60 requests per minute, or more than 3 at the same time, on one key. Wait for the Retry-After header.
- **500** `internal_error` — Something went wrong on our side.

## Example

### cURL

```bash
curl "https://foundermcp.dev/api/v1/leads/lead_01J9Z6P8C8V0K3W6T2N8R5M1XE" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUNDERMCP_API_KEY"
```

### JavaScript

```javascript
const response = await fetch('https://foundermcp.dev/api/v1/leads/lead_01J9Z6P8C8V0K3W6T2N8R5M1XE', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.FOUNDERMCP_API_KEY}`
  }
});
const body = await response.json();
```

### Python

```python
import json
import os
import urllib.request

request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://foundermcp.dev/api/v1/leads/lead_01J9Z6P8C8V0K3W6T2N8R5M1XE",
    headers={
    "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['FOUNDERMCP_API_KEY']}"
    },
    method="GET",
)
with urllib.request.urlopen(request) as response:
    body = json.load(response)
```

### Example response

```json
{
  "id": "lead_01J9Z6P8C8V0K3W6T2N8R5M1XE",
  "object": "lead",
  "search_id": "srch_01J9Z6P8C8V0K3W6T2N8R5M1XA",
  "watch_id": null,
  "signal_type": "linkedin_engagement",
  "match": "exact",
  "outside_reason": null,
  "person": {
    "full_name": "Jane Example",
    "title": "Chief Financial Officer",
    "company": {
      "name": "Northwind",
      "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/northwind"
    },
    "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-example"
  },
  "fit": {
    "score": 90,
    "why_fit": "Finance leadership in Belgium.",
    "matched_on": [
      "role",
      "level",
      "country"
    ]
  },
  "why_now": "Reacted to a post from Acme Analytics this week.",
  "evidence": [
    {
      "kind": "reaction",
      "occurred_at": "2026-10-20T09:00:00.000Z",
      "reaction_type": "like"
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "people": "https://foundermcp.dev/api/v1/person/enrich",
    "company": null
  },
  "credits_charged": 20
}
```