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💰 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.

📋 Pre-Investment Checklist​

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  • ✅ Connected wallet with sufficient funds
  • ✅ Chosen your strategy based on risk assessment
  • ✅ $50-200 minimum depending on strategy (plus gas fees)
  • ✅ 5-10 minutes to complete the process

đŸŽ¯ Step 1: Strategy Selection​

  1. Go to your dashboard after connecting wallet
  2. Click "Browse Strategies" or use the strategy selector
  3. Review the options based on your risk assessment

Strategy Quick Reference​

StrategyRisk LevelMin InvestmentExpected APYTime Commitment
đŸĻ StablecoinLow$5015-25%Set & forget
📈 Index FundsMedium$1005-15%Monthly check-ins
â‚ŋ BitcoinMed-High$1003-10%Quarterly reviews
Ξ EthereumMed-High$1005-10%Quarterly reviews

Make Your Choice​

  • Click on your chosen strategy for detailed information
  • Review the allocation breakdown and expected returns
  • Check supported assets you can deposit with

đŸ’ŗ Step 2: Fund Preparation​

Check Your Balance​

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 Assets​

You can invest with any of these:

  • USDC - Most liquid and accepted everywhere
  • USDT - Widely supported alternative
  • DAI - Decentralized stablecoin option

Major Cryptocurrencies​

  • ETH - Native Ethereum
  • WBTC - Wrapped Bitcoin
  • Other major tokens - Check strategy-specific support

Get Funds if Needed​

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)

⚙ī¸ Step 3: Investment Configuration​

Basic Setup​

  1. Enter investment amount in USD or token amount
  2. Review the breakdown of where funds will be allocated
  3. 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)​

Chain Preferences​

  • Auto-optimize (recommended): We choose the best chains
  • Specific chains: Manual selection if you have preferences

Rebalancing Frequency​

  • Quarterly (recommended): Balance of optimization vs costs
  • Monthly: More frequent optimization, slightly higher gas costs
  • Manual only: You decide when to rebalance

✅ Step 4: Final Review & Deployment​

Pre-Deployment Checklist​

Review these details before confirming:

Investment Summary​

  • ✅ Strategy selected: [Your chosen strategy]
  • ✅ Investment amount: $X,XXX
  • ✅ Expected APY: XX-XX%
  • ✅ Risk level: [Your risk level]

Cost Breakdown​

  • 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 Timeline​

  • Deployment: 2-5 minutes after confirmation
  • First yields: Visible within 24 hours
  • Full allocation: Complete within 1 hour

Confirm Investment​

  1. Click "Deploy Strategy" when ready
  2. Approve token spending in your wallet (if needed)
  3. Confirm the deployment transaction
  4. Wait for confirmation (usually 1-3 minutes)

🎉 Step 5: You're Invested!​

What Happens Next​

Immediately (0-10 minutes)​

  • ✅ Strategy deployed and active
  • ✅ Funds allocated across selected protocols
  • ✅ Dashboard updated with your new investment

Within 24 Hours​

  • 📊 Performance tracking becomes available
  • 💰 First yield accrual shows in dashboard
  • 📧 Welcome email with investment summary

First Week​

  • 📈 Full performance data and analytics available
  • đŸŽ¯ Strategy optimization (if beneficial)
  • 📊 Benchmark comparisons start showing

Your Investment Dashboard​

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

📱 Managing Your Investment​

Regular Monitoring​

  • Check dashboard weekly for performance updates
  • Read quarterly emails with rebalancing recommendations
  • Review strategy performance vs benchmarks

When to Rebalance​

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 Process​

Need your funds back?

  1. Go to your dashboard
  2. Click "Withdraw" on the strategy
  3. Choose amount (partial or full withdrawal)
  4. Confirm transaction in your wallet
  5. Funds return to your wallet (no fees!)

🆘 Need Help?​

Common First-Time Questions​

  • "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 Support​

Learning Resources​

đŸŽ¯ Congratulations!​

You've successfully deployed your first Zap Pilot strategy!

Remember:

  • 📈 Monitor regularly but don't panic over short-term fluctuations
  • 🔄 Let our algorithms work - they're optimized for long-term success
  • 📚 Keep learning about DeFi and strategy improvements
  • đŸ’Ŧ 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.

👉 Explore More Strategies → | 🏠 Back to Dashboard →