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First Steps

Let's get you started with VecAlpha. Follow these steps to make your first trade.

Step 1: Create Your Account​

  1. Go to vecalpha.com
  2. Click Sign Up
  3. Enter your email and create a password
  4. Verify your email address
tip

Use a strong, unique password and enable 2FA in Settings for extra security.

Step 2: Complete Your Profile​

After verification:

  1. Add your name and timezone
  2. Select your trading experience level
  3. Choose your primary interests (stocks, crypto, futures)
  4. Set your notification preferences

This helps us personalize your experience and recommendations.

Step 3: Explore the Marketplace​

Before building your own strategy, explore what others have created:

  1. Navigate to Marketplace → All Strategies
  2. Filter by asset class or performance
  3. Click on a strategy to see:
    • Full backtest results
    • Risk metrics
    • Creator profile
    • Subscription details

What to Look For​

MetricGood RangeRed Flag
Sharpe Ratio> 1.0< 0.5
Max Drawdown< 20%> 50%
Win Rate> 45%< 30%
Age> 6 months< 1 month

Step 4: Subscribe to a Strategy​

Found one you like?

  1. Click Subscribe
  2. Choose your allocation (how much capital)
  3. Review the confirmation
  4. The strategy is now active!

You can monitor its performance in My Subscriptions.

Step 5: Try Paper Trading​

Before going live, test with simulated money:

  1. Go to Strategy Lab → Paper Trading
  2. Select a strategy (yours or subscribed)
  3. Set your paper trading capital
  4. Click Start Paper Trading

Paper trading uses real market data but no real money. It's the best way to:

  • Verify strategy behavior
  • Test your monitoring workflow
  • Build confidence

Step 6: Go Live​

Ready to trade with real capital?

Prerequisites​

  • Strategy has passed paper trading
  • You understand the risks
  • API keys connected (if automated)
  • Risk parameters set

Steps​

  1. Go to Strategy Lab → My Strategies
  2. Select your strategy
  3. Click Go Live
  4. Set your allocation
  5. Confirm

Your strategy is now trading with real capital!

Quick Start Checklist​

Complete these in your first session:

  • Account created and verified
  • Profile completed
  • Explored the Marketplace
  • Subscribed to at least one strategy (or created your own)
  • Started paper trading
  • Set up notifications for trade alerts

Getting Help​

Need assistance?

  • Documentation: You're reading it! Check out the Academy for tutorials.
  • Community: Join our Discord for real-time help.
  • Support: Email [email protected] for account issues.
  • FAQ: Check FAQ for common questions.

Next Step​

Now that you're set up, learn how strategies work.

Continue to Next Steps →