About the Hoist Connector
Hoist connects your AI tool of choice to Australian source data. Ask whether a business, asset, invoice, or counterparty checks out. Hoist checks the sources and returns an Evidence Pack: verdict, source checks, timestamps, risk flags, and next steps. The Due Diligence Record PDF is included where a search produces one.
Hoist works across MCP hosts, API clients, and CLI workflows. This guide covers Claude Desktop. Use MCP for OAuth-approved agent-host access; use API or CLI when you control the API-key call path.
Current status. MCP discovery, OAuth metadata, dynamic client registration, and the protected MCP endpoint are live. Tool calls require OAuth. Real PPSR and ABN source checks require approved account access and source readiness. The REST API health endpoint is live; direct API and CLI calls use Hoist Assets API keys.
The config
{
"mcpServers": {
"hoist-assets": {
"url": "https://mcp.assets.hoistai.com/mcp",
"transport": "streamable-http"
}
}
}
Steps
- Open Claude Desktop. Mac:
Cmd ,→ Settings → Developer → Edit Config. Windows:%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. - Paste the snippet above into
mcpServers. If you already have other servers, just add thehoist-assetsentry alongside them. - Save and restart Claude Desktop. Quit completely (
Cmd Q), then reopen. The MCP indicator should show "hoist-assets" connected. - First time: approve OAuth. Claude will pop a browser window the first time you ask it to use a Hoist tool. Sign in, approve the requested access, done - subsequent calls use the cached token.
Smoke test
In a new chat: "Use Hoist Assets to look up ABN 11 695 718 659 and tell me the registered business name." Claude will call abn_lookup, then return the response.
Troubleshooting
- OAuth window doesn't open. Check your default browser is set and pop-ups aren't blocked. On macOS you may need to allow Claude Desktop accessibility permissions.
- Tools don't appear after install. Restart the host completely. Some hosts cache the tool list at startup.
- 403 on calls. Re-approve OAuth - the cached token may have expired or had scopes revoked.
- Still stuck? Contact us with the host name and the error message.
What to ask after install
Once connected, try these prompts in a new Claude Desktop chat:
- "Can we finance this vehicle for this ABN?" (runs
abn_lookup+ppsr_search_serial_number) - "Is this asset encumbered?" (runs
ppsr_search_serial_numberorppsr_search_organisation) - "Does this business have current GST registration?" (runs
gst_check) - "Is this broker licensed?" (runs
abn_lookupwith trading-name history) - "What changed since we last checked this counterparty?" (runs
abn_history) - "Export the Evidence Pack for deal reference AU-2026-0042." (runs
export_evidence_pack)
Hoist returns source-backed evidence. It does not guarantee that a transaction is safe, legal, compliant, or financeable. Paid searches require confirmation before executing.
