# Set up your first organisation

Go from an empty organisation to a first model request made with a project API key, and learn where each building block lives.

ilionx creates your organisation and invites your Owner. Sign in as an Owner or Admin to start at step 1.

## Before you begin

- You can sign in as an Owner or Admin of your organisation. An Account Manager can do steps 4 and 5 only. If the organisation doesn't exist yet, ask your ilionx contact to set it up.
- You have a credential for one AI provider, such as an OpenAI API key.
- You know your ATLAS address. Replace `https://<atlas-host>` with it.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    S[1 Space] --> PR[2 Provider]
    PR --> M[3 Model]
    M --> P[4 Project]
    P --> K[5 Project key]
    K --> R[6 First request]
```

## 1. Create a space

Spaces group people, model rules and budgets. Sign in as the Owner and create a small tree now. You can reshape it later.

1. In the sidebar, open **Spaces** and select **Create Space**.
2. Leave **Parent space** on the organisation's root space. Enter a **Name** such as `Engineering`, set **Label** to **Unit** and select **Create**.
3. Select **Create Space** again. Set **Parent space** to `Engineering`, enter a **Name** such as `Platform team`, set **Label** to **Team** and select **Create**.

Only a Team can hold API keys, and a Team can sit only under a Unit. To add yourself or colleagues, use the Team's **People** tab.

For more information, see [Organise the space hierarchy](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/spaces-organise-hierarchy.md).

## 2. Add a provider

1. Open **Providers** and select **New Provider**.
2. Pick a provider from the list, such as OpenAI. Check the **Name** and **Base URL**, and enter the credentials.
3. Select **Create Provider**. ATLAS tests the connection in the background. If it warns you, fix the cause and select **Test Connection** on the **Health** tab.

For more information, see [Add an AI provider](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/providers-and-models-add-provider.md).

## 3. Add a model

1. Open **Models** and select **New Model**.
2. On **Model**, choose the **Provider**, then pick a model under **Discover** or **Catalogue**.
3. On **Pricing**, review the prices and tick **I have checked these prices and confirm they are correct.**
4. Select **Create Model**.

Callers use the model's reference as the model name. It has the form `provider-slug/model-slug`, for example `openai/gpt-4.1`. For more information, see [Add models to a provider](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/providers-and-models-add-models.md).

## 4. Create a project

A project owns its own keys, models and funding, so it is the simplest way to give a service access. An Account Manager can also do steps 4 and 5 (creating projects and project keys), but not steps 1 to 3, which need an Admin.

1. Open **Projects** and select **New Project**.
2. Enter a **Name**. For this tutorial, choose **Tracked** under **Funding**, which serves traffic straight away. A **Funded** project refuses requests until you add funds.
3. Select **Create Project**.
4. Open the project's **Models** tab, select **Add models**, tick your model and confirm.

For more information, see [Create a project](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/projects-create-a-project.md) and [Configure a project's models and AI settings](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/projects-configure-models-and-ai-settings.md).

## 5. Create a project API key

1. In the project, open the **API Keys** tab and select **Create API Key**.
2. Enter a **Name**, such as `first-request`, and choose an **Expiration**.
3. Select **Create API Key**.
4. In the **API Key Issued** dialog, copy the key. It starts with `atl_pk_`. The dialog shows it only once. Tick **I have copied this key and stored it somewhere safe.**, then select **Done**.

## 6. Make the first request

Replace the address and key with your own:

```bash
export BASE_URL="https://<atlas-host>"
export API_KEY="atl_pk_..."

curl -s "$BASE_URL/gateway/openai/v1/chat/completions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model":"openai/gpt-4.1","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Say hello"}]}'
```

**Result:** you get a JSON completion. Open the project's **Usage** tab to see the request and its cost. If it fails, see [Troubleshooting](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/troubleshooting.md).

## Next steps

Invite the people who will use ATLAS, set budgets and decide how people sign in:

1. [Manage organisation members](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/organisations-manage-members.md)
2. [Set a space budget](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/budget-and-cost-set-a-space-budget.md) and [fund a project](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/projects-fund-a-project.md)
3. [Configure Microsoft Entra ID sign-in](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/identity-and-access-configure-entra-sign-in.md)
4. [Explore usage](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/usage-and-audit-explore-usage.md)

## Related

- [Quickstart](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/getting-started/quickstart.md): the same journey from the user's side
- [Glossary](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/reference/glossary.md)
- [Administrator guides](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin.md)