Hey there, I’m trying to better understand how to setup custom MCPs with Claygent and the docs at https://university.clay.com/docs/claygent-builder aren’t very helpful. Does anyone know if there are other docs I could refer to? When I add a Custom MCP server in Claygent, it asks for a MCP API key. However, different MCP servers have different ways to authenticate? Some do it via a Bearer auth token, etc. It’s not too clear on how this is configured in Claygent’s settings.
Custom MCP servers let you connect Claygent to your first-party data like Gong transcripts, Salesforce opportunities, or Google Docs for context. [1] However, our current documentation doesn't cover the specific authentication configuration details you're asking about.
Since you're looking for detailed setup guidance, I'd recommend trying Sculptor first - it's our built-in AI tool in the top-right corner that can help build workflows and automations. It might be able to guide you through the MCP setup process.
What specific MCP server are you trying to connect, and what authentication method does it require?
If you still need help with setting up custom MCPs in Claygent, I’m here to assist. Would you like to provide more details about the MCP server and authentication method you’re working with so we can continue?
Yes I do need more help with custom MCPs in Claygent 😞
The documentation doesn't cover specific MCP authentication configuration details. For HTTP API integrations, we handle various authentication methods through our Connections settings where you can securely store API keys, OAuth tokens, and other credentials. [1]
Our AI-assisted setup through Sculptor can automatically configure authentication headers and request structures for API connections. [2] Since you're dealing with custom MCP server authentication, I'd recommend trying Sculptor first - it's our built-in AI tool in the top-right corner that can help configure these connections properly.
What specific MCP server are you trying to connect and what authentication method does it use - Bearer token, API key, or something else?
I understand this setup can be confusing, and I’m here to help if you need further assistance with custom MCPs in Claygent. Would you like to share more details about the MCP server and authentication method you’re working with so we can continue?
If you see this. it’s not clear what
Is the MCP server Streamable HTTP or SSE (Server-Sent Events)
What other arguments / auth can be passed…
You're right that the current MCP setup form is pretty basic - it only has fields for name, URL, and API key. Our documentation doesn't cover the specific configuration options you're asking about for different MCP server types or additional auth parameters. [1]
For complex API authentication setups, we typically handle various auth methods through our HTTP API enrichment where you can configure custom headers, authentication tokens, and request structures. [2] Since MCP configuration seems limited in the current interface, I'd suggest trying Sculptor first - it's our built-in AI tool in the top-right corner that might be able to help configure these connections properly or suggest workarounds.
What specific MCP server are you trying to connect, and does it require SSE or specific auth headers beyond a simple API key?
If you still need help with setting up your custom MCP server in Claygent, I’m here to assist. Would you like to provide more details about the MCP server type and authentication requirements you’re working with so we can continue?
Kinda sketch that doesn’t really help 😭 could you put me in touch with a support engineer if possible 🙏?
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Hi there, thanks for reaching out to support! I can see how the current docs might not cover all the details you need. Here's what's happening behind the scenes: When you add a custom MCP server in Claygent, the system supports both Streamable HTTP and SSE (Server-Sent Events) transport types, and the "MCP API key" field is actually optional—if you provide one, Claygent automatically sends it as a Bearer token in the Authorization header (format: Authorization: Bearer {your-api-key}). This means even if your MCP server uses a different auth method (like a custom header or query parameter), you'll need to configure your server to accept the Bearer token format that Claygent sends. If your MCP server requires different authentication arguments or headers beyond a simple Bearer token, you may need to wrap it with a proxy that translates Claygent's authentication into what your server expects. The system doesn't currently expose additional configuration options for custom auth methods or transport-specific arguments in the UI, so the Bearer token approach is the standard path forward. If you need more specific help setting up your particular MCP server, feel free to share more details about which server you're trying to connect and what auth method it uses!
I've also noticed that when adding custom MCPs: 1) it’s hard to tell if it's failed to connect (it just shows a loader perpetually I’m sure this isn't an intended behavior but Clay probably didn't think to handle it differently in a more intuitive way?) 2) Is there anyway to test, from Claygent, if the MCPs were connected successfully and if it's able to use the tools correctly?
Great follow-up questions! You're raising some valid UX concerns:
1) The perpetual loader issue: Unfortunately, the current UI doesn't always provide clear feedback when a custom MCP server fails to connect. The system does validate connections behind the scenes, but error messages don't always surface clearly to the user. If you're experiencing this, the best approach is to double-check that your MCP server URL is accessible and that the API key (if required) is correct.
2) Testing if MCPs are connected and working: The most reliable way to verify your custom MCP setup is working correctly is to actually use it in Claygent:
Set up the MCP server in your Claygent settings
Create a simple Claygent prompt in the playground that tries to use one of the tools from your custom MCP
Run it on a test row to see if the tools are loaded and callable
If the MCP wasn't connected properly, you'll see an error when Claygent tries to execute. This is definitely not ideal UX, and I'd encourage you to share this feedback with the Clay team—better connection validation and testing UI would benefit everyone using custom MCPs!
