ProFormaEngine

Getting started

How to connect ProFormaEngine to your AI assistant, and what to ask it.

ProFormaEngine builds and stores financial models: line items with values by year, plain-text formulas such as revenue[t-1] * (1 + growth), tables and charts. You build models by talking to an AI assistant connected to ProFormaEngine, and review them in the web app at app.proformaengine.com.

ProFormaEngine is invite-only for now. You need an approved account to connect: join the waitlist and you'll get access as room opens up.

Connect to Claude

  1. In Claude, open Settings → Connectors and choose Add custom connector.
  2. Enter the server URL https://mcp.proformaengine.com/mcp.
  3. Select Connect and sign in with your ProFormaEngine account when prompted.
  4. In a conversation, make sure the ProFormaEngine connector is enabled, then ask Claude to build or change a model.

To disconnect, remove the connector in Settings → Connectors. Your models stay in your ProFormaEngine account.

What the connector can do

The connector works only on your own models, and only while you're signed in.

  • Read: list your models; read values, summaries, tables and charts; compare two models; export a model as JSON. These change nothing.
  • Build and edit: create and copy models; add inputs, line items and formulas; set values, tags, labels, notes and number formats; add tables, charts and groups; rename items; import a model from JSON; make folders and file models in them.
  • Remove: delete a model, reset it to empty, clear values, remove items, tables and charts, or replace a table's rows or a chart's definition. Claude asks you to confirm these before running them. A deleted model goes to the trash, where Claude or you can restore it for 30 days before it's deleted for good.
  • Lock: a model set to read-only can't be changed by any tool until it's unlocked.

Connect to ChatGPT

ChatGPT can use ProFormaEngine as a custom connector on plans that allow them (with developer mode or connectors turned on). Add a connector with the server URL https://mcp.proformaengine.com/mcp and sign in with your ProFormaEngine account.

Example prompts

Start broad, then refine. The assistant creates line items and formulas step by step, and you can check every number in the web app.

"Build a five-year pro forma for a water utility starting in 2026: water sales of 7.75 million units growing 1% a year, a rate of $1.55 per unit rising 2.75% a year, and operating expenses of $9 million growing 3%. Show me revenue, expenses and net revenue by year."
"In my Water model, add a $20 million bond issued in 2027 at 5% over 30 years, and show annual principal and interest as debt service."
"Copy my Water model as a 'High inflation' scenario, raise expense growth to 5%, and compare net revenue between the two models."
"Make a table of revenue, expenses and net revenue for my Water model, and a chart of revenue against the rate increase."

Monthly and quarterly models

A model is annual, quarterly or monthly, chosen when it's created. In a monthly model, x[t-1] is last month and x[t-12] the same month last year; quarterly works the same way with t-4. Up to 10 years of months or 20 years of quarters.

  • Rates stay annual and are applied explicitly: sales[t-12] * (1 + growth) compares with the same month last year, and costs[t-1] * (1 + growth) ** (1/12) grows month to month.
  • Calendar helpers: month(2027, 3) names a month, month_of(t) and year_of(t) ask about one, for seasonality or a year-end payment.
  • Excel: the download's columns are real dates, and formulas stay formulas.
"Build a monthly cash flow for 2027 and 2028: sales start at $40,000 in January with a seasonal peak in summer, grow 8% year over year, costs are 70% of sales, and there's a $15,000 insurance payment every December. Show me the cash balance by month."

Review in the web app

  • Spreadsheet view: every input and line item by year. Hardcoded inputs are blue. Select a cell to see its formula, with the cells it reads highlighted, and trace precedents and dependents.
  • Find: search line items by label, name or tag, and highlight a tag's rows.
  • Tables, charts and tags: the views your assistant set up, from the toolbar.
  • Download: a working Excel workbook where formulas stay formulas, with a Checks tab comparing every value with ProFormaEngine's.
  • Settings (the gear): create a view-only link to share a model with someone who doesn't have an account, move a model to a folder, or delete it.
  • Folders: on the models list, make folders and move models into them, like folders of Excel files. You can also ask your assistant to file models for you.
  • Trash: deleted models, from the models list. Restore one, or delete it for good; after 30 days that happens on its own.

Troubleshooting

  • Sign-in doesn't let you in: your account needs to be approved first. If you've joined the waitlist, you'll hear from us when it is.
  • Claude can't see the connector's tools: check the connector is enabled for the conversation. If it still fails, remove the connector and add it again to sign in afresh.
  • A change is refused: the error says why, for example a formula naming a line item that doesn't exist, or a model that's read-only.

Help

Questions or problems: support@proformaengine.com.