# Getting Started

> Create a Botyard organization, add an LLM provider credential, and deploy your first bot. A step-by-step setup guide with pointers to what to configure next.

Canonical URL: https://docs.botyard.io/docs/getting-started

This guide takes you from a new Botyard organization to a running bot with an LLM provider
credential attached.

## 1. Create your organization

Sign in to [app.botyard.io](https://app.botyard.io). If this is your first time using
Botyard, create an organization when prompted. Your organization owns the bots, credentials,
MCP servers, and API keys you create.

Directions in these docs that start at **User menu** begin with your name in the bottom-left
corner of the app: click it to open the menu.

## 2. Add provider credentials

Bots need a model provider before they can answer with an LLM. You can either bring your own
provider API key or use an account-backed provider when available. If you plan to run your
bot on Botyard credits (see step 4 of section 3), you can skip this section.

1. Open **User menu** › **Settings** › **Credentials** › **LLM Providers** and click **Add provider**.
2. Choose the provider you want to use.
3. Paste the required secret or complete the provider connection flow.
4. Save the credential with a recognizable label.

Credential secret values are stored as encrypted runtime secrets. After creation, Botyard
shows only safe metadata such as the label, provider, and masked key prefix.

## 3. Deploy your first bot

1. Open **User menu** › **Settings** › **Bots** › **Deploy Bot**.
2. On the **Name** step, give the bot a name.
3. On the **Template & Config** step, keep **Chat setup**, the default: the bot introduces
   itself in its first chat and helps you finish its configuration. You can choose **From
   template** instead. Then click **Continue**.
4. On the **Credentials & Model** step, choose where the bot's model comes from:
   * **Use Botyard credits**: Botyard pays the model provider and the usage is billed to your
     Botyard credits, so you don't need an API key. Pick one of the recommended models to
     deploy the bot.
   * **Bring your own key**: use an account you already have with a provider such as OpenAI,
     Anthropic, or OpenRouter, and the provider bills you directly. Select or add the provider
     credential, choose a model, then click **Deploy Bot**.

Botyard then shows a **Setting up *bot name*** page while it provisions the bot. This usually
takes one to two minutes. When the bot is ready, click **Open new chat** and send your first
message.

### Video walkthroughs

* [Deploy your AI bots](https://www.loom.com/share/b635e6d65da849028c709b44504f9114) (about a
  minute): naming the bot and setting its avatar, picking a template, choosing a provider and
  model, and confirming the bot is live.
* [Working with your AI bots](https://www.loom.com/share/6cea09472d2147c583b722af51fae4cf):
  the chat interface, thinking level and behavior settings, and assigning skills from the skill
  catalogue.

## 4. Next steps

* [Host apps with Botyard](/docs/hosting-apps) when your bot creates a local web app you want
  to share with your team.
* [MCP setup templates](/docs/mcp-setup-templates) when your bot needs extra tools from MCP
  servers.
* [API Authentication](/docs/api/authentication) when you want to call the Botyard API from
  your own automation.
* [Manage Botyard with Terraform](/docs/terraform) when you want to declare bots, skills, MCP
  servers, and vault secrets as code.