๐ฐ Your First Investment
Step-by-step walkthrough to deploy your first strategy
Follow this guide to go from connected wallet to earning yields in under 10 minutes.
๐ Pre-Investment Checklistโ
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- โ Connected wallet with sufficient funds
- โ Chosen your strategy based on risk assessment
- โ $50-200 minimum depending on strategy (plus gas fees)
- โ 5-10 minutes to complete the process
๐ฏ Step 1: Strategy Selectionโ
Navigate to Strategiesโ
- Go to your dashboard after connecting wallet
- Click "Browse Strategies" or use the strategy selector
- Review the options based on your risk assessment
Strategy Quick Referenceโ
| Strategy | Risk Level | Min Investment | Expected APY | Time Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ฆ Stablecoin | Low | $50 | 15-25% | Set & forget |
| ๐ Index Funds | Medium | $100 | 5-15% | Monthly check-ins |
| โฟ Bitcoin | Med-High | $100 | 3-10% | Quarterly reviews |
| ฮ Ethereum | Med-High | $100 | 5-10% | Quarterly reviews |
Make Your Choiceโ
- Click on your chosen strategy for detailed information
- Review the allocation breakdown and expected returns
- Check supported assets you can deposit with
๐ณ Step 2: Fund Preparationโ
Check Your Balanceโ
Ensure your wallet has:
- Investment amount (strategy minimum + 20% buffer)
- Gas fees (typically $10-30 total)
- Correct network (we'll guide you to switch if needed)
Supported Deposit Assetsโ
You can invest with any of these:
Stablecoins (Recommended)โ
- USDC - Most liquid and accepted everywhere
- USDT - Widely supported alternative
- DAI - Decentralized stablecoin option
Major Cryptocurrenciesโ
- ETH - Native Ethereum
- WBTC - Wrapped Bitcoin
- Other major tokens - Check strategy-specific support
Get Funds if Neededโ
Don't have crypto yet?
- Buy on exchanges: Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, etc.
- Withdraw to your wallet (double-check address!)
- Wait for confirmation (usually 1-5 minutes)
โ๏ธ Step 3: Investment Configurationโ
Basic Setupโ
- Enter investment amount in USD or token amount
- Review the breakdown of where funds will be allocated
- Select risk level (if applicable):
- Conservative: Lower risk, more stable returns
- Balanced: Moderate risk/reward (recommended)
- Aggressive: Higher risk for growth potential
Advanced Options (Optional)โ
Chain Preferencesโ
- Auto-optimize (recommended): We choose the best chains
- Specific chains: Manual selection if you have preferences
Rebalancing Frequencyโ
- Quarterly (recommended): Balance of optimization vs costs
- Monthly: More frequent optimization, slightly higher gas costs
- Manual only: You decide when to rebalance
โ Step 4: Final Review & Deploymentโ
Pre-Deployment Checklistโ
Review these details before confirming:
Investment Summaryโ
- โ Strategy selected: [Your chosen strategy]
- โ Investment amount: $X,XXX
- โ Expected APY: XX-XX%
- โ Risk level: [Your risk level]
Cost Breakdownโ
- Entry fee: 1% of investment (one-time)
- Gas fees: ~$10-30 (varies by network)
- Total upfront cost: Entry fee + gas fees
- Ongoing fees: $0 (no management or performance fees)
Expected Timelineโ
- Deployment: 2-5 minutes after confirmation
- First yields: Visible within 24 hours
- Full allocation: Complete within 1 hour
Confirm Investmentโ
- Click "Deploy Strategy" when ready
- Approve token spending in your wallet (if needed)
- Confirm the deployment transaction
- Wait for confirmation (usually 1-3 minutes)
๐ Step 5: You're Invested!โ
What Happens Nextโ
Immediately (0-10 minutes)โ
- โ Strategy deployed and active
- โ Funds allocated across selected protocols
- โ Dashboard updated with your new investment
Within 24 Hoursโ
- ๐ Performance tracking becomes available
- ๐ฐ First yield accrual shows in dashboard
- ๐ง Welcome email with investment summary
First Weekโ
- ๐ Full performance data and analytics available
- ๐ฏ Strategy optimization (if beneficial)
- ๐ Benchmark comparisons start showing
Your Investment Dashboardโ
Access real-time information:
- Current Value: Live USD value of your investment
- Total Returns: Profit/loss since you started
- APY Tracking: Current annualized return rate
- Allocation View: Breakdown of where your money is working
๐ฑ Managing Your Investmentโ
Regular Monitoringโ
- Check dashboard weekly for performance updates
- Read quarterly emails with rebalancing recommendations
- Review strategy performance vs benchmarks
When to Rebalanceโ
We'll email you when:
- Market conditions change significantly
- Better opportunities become available
- Quarterly review period arrives
You can also rebalance anytime with one click.
Withdrawal Processโ
Need your funds back?
- Go to your dashboard
- Click "Withdraw" on the strategy
- Choose amount (partial or full withdrawal)
- Confirm transaction in your wallet
- Funds return to your wallet (no fees!)
๐ Need Help?โ
Common First-Time Questionsโ
- "My transaction is pending" - Network congestion is normal, just wait
- "I don't see my balance" - Can take 5-10 minutes to sync
- "Gas fees seem high" - We optimize timing, but network fees vary
Get Supportโ
- ๐ฌ Live Chat: Instant help on our website
- ๐ง Email: support@zap-pilot.com
- ๐ฌ Discord: Join our community for user-to-user help
- ๐ FAQ: Comprehensive answers to common questions
Learning Resourcesโ
- ๐ How It Works: Deep dive into our methodology
- ๐ Investment Strategies: Learn about different approaches
- ๐ก๏ธ Security: Understand how we keep your funds safe
๐ฏ Congratulations!โ
You've successfully deployed your first Zap Pilot strategy!
Remember:
- ๐ Monitor regularly but don't panic over short-term fluctuations
- ๐ Let our algorithms work - they're optimized for long-term success
- ๐ Keep learning about DeFi and strategy improvements
- ๐ฌ Join our community to share experiences with other investors
Ready for more? Consider diversifying with additional strategies or increasing your investment as you get comfortable with the platform.
๐ Explore More Strategies โ | ๐ Back to Dashboard โ