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Unified User Architecture

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Overview

The Unified User Architecture gives you secure, seamless access to Fiftyknots across all platforms - from your first signup through every stage of building. Sign in once with email verification or OAuth, and the platform handles sessions, permissions, and profile management automatically. You stay focused on shipping your venture while Fiftyknots manages authentication, role transitions, and data security behind the scenes.

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Step-by-Step Guide

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First-Time Signup

  1. Request your access code - Navigate to the Login page (/login) and enter your email address. Click “Send Code” to receive a 6-digit verification code via email within 5 seconds.
  2. Verify your email - Enter the 6-digit code from your email. The code expires after 10 minutes, so enter it promptly. If you miss the window, request a new code.
  3. Land in your dashboard - After verification, the platform creates your account with CLIENT role and establishes a secure session. You’re redirected to the Quick Start page (/quickstart) to begin your journey.
  4. Complete your profile - Access your profile settings to add display name, phone, country, timezone, and company details. Completing all sections unlocks payment features and full platform access.

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OAuth Sign-In (Alternative Method)

  1. Choose your provider - On the Login page, select “Sign in with Google,” “Sign in with Microsoft,” or “Sign in with LinkedIn” instead of email verification.
  2. Authorize access - Complete the OAuth flow with your chosen provider. The platform verifies your identity through secure token validation.
  3. Auto-account creation - If this is your first time, Fiftyknots automatically creates your CLIENT account using your OAuth profile information. If you’ve signed in before, you’re logged into your existing account.

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Cross-Platform Access

  1. Start on the marketing site - While browsing Fiftyknots marketing content, click any “Get Started” or “Access Platform” button.
  2. Seamless transition - The system generates a temporary authorization code and redirects you to the platform. You land fully authenticated without seeing a login screen.
  3. Session continuity - Your session remains active for 24 hours from your last request. Every action you take extends the session automatically, so you won’t get logged out mid-workflow.

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Managing Active Sessions

  1. View your devices - Navigate to your profile settings and access the Sessions section. You’ll see all active sessions with device info, location, IP address, and last activity timestamp.
  2. Terminate sessions - Click “End Session” next to any device to log out remotely. Useful if you left yourself logged in on a shared computer or want to clear old sessions.
  3. Logout everywhere - Use “Logout” from any page to end your current session. Use “End All Sessions” to terminate every active session across all devices simultaneously.

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Special Sherpa Signup

  1. Obtain your invite code - If you’re joining as a Supervisor (quality review role), you’ll receive a special Sherpa invite code from the Fiftyknots team.
  2. Use the Sherpa signup flow - Navigate to Sherpa Signup (/sherpasignup) instead of the standard login page. Enter your email and the invite code.
  3. Verify and activate - Complete email verification as normal. The platform assigns you SUPERVISOR role instead of CLIENT, granting immediate access to quality review dashboards and assessment tools.

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Common Questions

Q: What happens if I don’t receive my verification code?
A: First, check your spam folder. If the code doesn’t arrive within 30 seconds, request a new one - the system allows you to request codes again after a brief cooldown. If problems persist, the email service may be experiencing issues; wait a few minutes and try again. Each code expires after 10 minutes, so always request a fresh code rather than waiting for old ones. Q: Can I log in from multiple devices at once?
A: Yes. You can maintain active sessions across your laptop, phone, tablet, and any other devices simultaneously. Each session operates independently with its own 24-hour expiration window. You can view and manage all active sessions from your profile settings, terminating any session remotely if needed. Q: How do I switch between OAuth providers?
A: Your account is linked to your email address, not your OAuth provider. If you sign in with Google using work@company.com, then later use Microsoft OAuth with the same email, both logins access the same Fiftyknots account. The platform matches you by email and updates your account information automatically. Q: What happens when my session expires during work?
A: Sessions extend 24 hours every time you take an action, so you won’t get logged out while actively using the platform. If you leave a tab open overnight and return, your next request will receive a 401 error and redirect you to login. Your work is auto-saved at regular intervals, so you won’t lose progress - just log back in and continue where you left off. Q: Can I upgrade from CLIENT to EXPERT role?
A: Yes. When an admin assigns you EXPERT role, both roles become active on your account. The platform uses your highest permission level (EXPERT) for authorization decisions, but maintains both roles in your profile. You can hold multiple roles simultaneously - CLIENT, EXPERT, MODERATOR, SUPERVISOR, ADMIN, or SUPER_ADMIN - depending on your responsibilities across the platform.

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Troubleshooting

Issue: Account locked after multiple failed login attempts
Your account automatically locks after several failed verification attempts to protect against unauthorized access. Wait for the cooldown period (typically 15-30 minutes), then try again. If you’re locked out immediately, check that you’re entering the verification code exactly as received - codes are case-sensitive and time-limited. Request a fresh code rather than retrying with an expired one. Issue: Sessions ending unexpectedly despite recent activity
This typically occurs when your browser blocks cookies or you’re in private/incognito mode. Fiftyknots stores session tokens in secure httpOnly cookies, which some privacy settings restrict. Check that your browser allows cookies for fiftyknots.com. If using a corporate network with aggressive firewall rules, session management may conflict with network security policies - contact your IT department to whitelist Fiftyknots session domains. Issue: OAuth login fails with “Invalid state parameter” error
This security error occurs when the OAuth callback doesn’t match the original request, often caused by browser extensions interfering with redirect flows or taking too long to complete the OAuth provider’s authorization screen. Disable browser extensions temporarily, clear your cache, and retry. Don’t use the browser back button during OAuth flows - if you need to restart, return to the Fiftyknots login page and initiate a fresh OAuth request. Issue: Profile completion stuck below 100% despite filling all fields
Profile completion requires three sections: basic info (display name), contact info (phone, country, timezone), and company info (company name, website). Verify each field meets validation requirements - phone numbers need proper formatting, timezones must match the dropdown list exactly, and company websites require valid URLs including https://. If a payment method is required for your journey, add a valid payment method to reach “Escrow Ready” status. Profile Management - Complete your founder profile to unlock payment features and track engagement metrics. Your profile completion percentage directly affects access to escrow, payment processing, and advanced platform features. Navigate to Profile Complete (/profilecomplete) to see your progress and fill missing sections. Venture Squad Collaboration - Invite co-founders and team members to access your projects through secure collaboration links. The platform manages permissions automatically based on each member’s role, ensuring the right people see the right information. Visit Venture Squad (/venturesquad) to send invitations and manage your venture team. Quick Start Wizard - New to Fiftyknots? The Quick Start wizard walks you through creating your first project, uploading documents, and selecting your ICP category. The wizard adapts based on your profile completeness and role assignments. Access it at Quick Start (/quickstart) or whenever you start a new venture.