Connect your assistant.
Pick your platform - Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity. All three take under a minute and use the same OAuth flow, no API keys to copy on the web path.
Don't have an 8Raise account yet? Create an account and pick a plan ($59/mo and up, cancel anytime) - then come back here to plug 8Raise into your assistant.
Both platforms use OAuth - no API key on the web flow. After you click Add / Create, a sign-in window opens; sign in to 8Raise and click Allow.
Open Claude.ai → Customize
Sign in to claude.ai. In the left sidebar near the top, click Customize.
Open the Connectors panel
On the Customize page, click Connectors in the left sub-nav (or the “Connect your apps” card).
Click + then 'Add custom connector'
In the Connectors panel, click the + button at the top right (marked 1). A small popover opens - click Add custom connector (marked 2).
Paste the name + MCP URL, click Add
Use the values from the panel at the top of this page - copy 8Raise into Name and https://mcp.8raise.com/mcp into Remote MCP server URL. Leave Advanced settings as-is. Click Add. Claude opens a sign-in window pointing at 8raise.com - sign in (or sign up), click Allow on the consent screen, and you're done.
Kick it off.
Once 8Raise is connected (in Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity), type one of these to wake it up. The assistant loads the tools, shows you your plan and remaining leads, and gets ready to search.
Any of these triggers the welcome flow. Once you're in, just describe who you want to reach in plain English - 8Raise picks the right mode (VC / Real Estate / LP), asks any missing questions, and runs the search.
Upload it and we'll find the people.
For when you already know which firms you want to reach. Same monthly credit allowance, no extra cost. Lives in the dashboard under Enrich a list.
Comma-separated list of firms in a textbox, or drag-drop a CSV / Excel. Just one column needed: "company".
Pick investors per firm (1-5) and contact channels (LinkedIn / email / phone). Preview your plan balance. Hit run.
Results land in the same table as regular searches. Save, export, push to HeyReach. Includes firm context (AUM, stages, portfolio) on every row.
~1-2 minutes per firm. Up to 1,000 firms per upload. Active-role verification skips alumni. Stale-email warnings flag addresses that may bounce after job changes.
If something doesn't work.
Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity says it can't find the tools.
Double-check the URL. It must be exactly https://mcp.8raise.com/mcp (not https://mcp.8raise.com). For Claude Desktop/Code the Authorization header must start with 'Bearer 8r_'; copy it from your dashboard API-key section after signing in.
ChatGPT says I can't add a custom MCP server.
Make sure Developer Mode is ON: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → toggle Developer Mode. Without it, ChatGPT only allows pre-vetted apps. Then go back to Apps → Create app and the MCP Server URL field appears.
Every tool call errors, even get_started or get_billing_info.
Your OAuth connection is most likely stuck. Sign in to your 8Raise dashboard, go to the Connections section at the bottom, hit Revoke on the stuck token, and re-add the connector in Claude.ai, ChatGPT, or Perplexity. A fresh OAuth round-trip issues a new long-lived token. Takes 20 seconds.
I just made a change and Claude / ChatGPT / Perplexity isn't seeing new tools.
All three clients cache the MCP tool schemas per chat. Start a new chat and the updated tools appear automatically. In ChatGPT and Perplexity you can also click Refresh on the connector's settings page.
Perplexity doesn't show the Custom connector option.
Custom connectors are gated behind Pro / Max / Enterprise on Perplexity - the free tier doesn't expose them. On Enterprise, an admin may also need to enable custom connectors first via Enterprise settings → Permissions → Connectors. Once enabled, the option appears under Customize → Connectors → + Custom connector.
Searches fail with 'limit reached'.
You've hit your plan's monthly credit cap. The assistant will tell you the exact used/cap numbers. Upgrade via the dashboard (or directly in chat with 'upgrade me to Growth') and the new cap takes effect immediately.
I added a new saved-lead tag or exclusion but the next search didn't pick it up.
The MCP caches exclusion lists for 60 seconds per user. Wait a minute and try again. Active exclusion lists are announced before each search so you can see what's applied.
The connector works in Claude Desktop but not claude.ai (or vice versa).
Claude.ai's custom-connector UI is occasionally flaky with the OAuth refresh flow. If chat is stuck, revoke the token from the dashboard's Connections section and re-add - the new token never expires until you revoke again.
CSV export looks different in ChatGPT vs Claude.
Expected. Claude.ai renders CSV inline as a table preview. ChatGPT delivers the same data as a downloadable file link. The data is identical - Pro plans get watermark-free exports on both.
Ready to find your investors?
Start with 10 free credits, no credit card. Plans from $59/mo, cancel anytime. Connect 8Raise to your assistant and run your first search in under two minutes.
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