A new chat with Claude knows nothing about your startup. A Project fixes that: it's a workspace on claude.ai that holds your files and your standing instructions, and every chat inside it can use them. Set it up once and stop pasting the same background into every conversation.
1Know what a Project remembers
A Project has four layers. Only the first two are fully under your control, so put anything important there.
| Layer | What it holds | Who writes it | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project knowledge | Files you upload: facts file, deck, metrics, notes | You | All plans |
| Project instructions | How Claude should work inside this project | You | All plans |
| Project memory | What Claude picks up from chats in this project | Claude (you can edit it) | On by default on Free, Pro and Max. On Team and Enterprise, once an owner allows it |
| Search past chats | Finding an earlier conversation in this project | Claude, when you ask | Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise |
Anthropic's help center is clear on one point: chats in a project don't share context unless it's in project knowledge. Memory helps, but your files are the source of truth.
2Create the project
- Go to claude.ai/projects, or click Projects in the left sidebar.
- Click + New Project.
- Name it something like "[Company] brain" and add a short description.
- Open the project and click the star icon, so it stays in your sidebar.
Claude can't see the project's name or description, so anything it needs goes in the instructions or the files. Anthropic's full walkthrough: How can I create and manage projects?
3Upload the files that matter
Use the + button in the project's knowledge panel to add files. Start with these:
| File | Why Claude needs it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
Facts file (profile.md) | The one page that says who you are, with approved numbers | Build it with the interview in Set up Claude |
| Current deck | So everything Claude writes matches your story | Upload as PDF |
| Metrics | Traction with dates | CSV or XLSX, one row per month |
| Customer notes | Interview summaries, quotes, objections | One file per month, named by date |
| Decisions log | What you decided and why | A running markdown file |
Limits to know: each project file can be up to 30MB, and for most formats Claude reads the text only, so images inside a Word doc are skipped. PDFs are the exception. XLSX uploads need code execution turned on in your settings. Give files clear names like metrics-2026-09.csv: Anthropic notes that descriptive file names help Claude find the right one.
4Write the project instructions
Click Set project instructions, paste the template below with your details, and click Save instructions. Claude follows them in every chat in the project.
You are the operating partner for [Company], which [one-line description]. Before any task, read profile.md. It is the source of truth. Rules: - Use only numbers that appear in profile.md or the metrics files. If a number is missing, write "Add: ..." and never guess. - When two files disagree, trust the one with the newest date in its name, and tell me about the conflict. - Our customer is [who]. Our voice is [three words]. Never call us [words to avoid]. - Write in plain English with short sentences. - When I paste new notes, finish by listing what should change in profile.md.
5Let memory help, and keep it honest
Memory means Claude saves useful context as you chat. Each project has its own memory, kept apart from your other chats, so what you discuss in the company brain stays there.
- See and fix it: go to Settings → Memory. Open any topic to edit or delete it. You can also say "remember that..." or "forget that..." in a chat.
- Skip it for one chat: before your first message, open the + menu and turn off Memory.
- Search old chats (paid plans): ask "What did we decide about pricing last month?" and Claude searches past chats in this project.
Claude won't save some things to memory even if you ask, such as government ID numbers or financial account numbers. When a fact changes, update the file, not just the chat. The memory details are in Use Claude's chat search and memory.
6Use it every day
Start these chats inside the project, so Claude has your files.
Read profile.md and the newest metrics file. In under 200 words, tell me: 1. Where we stand against the goal in profile.md, using only numbers in the files. 2. The three things most likely to move that number this week. 3. One thing I should stop doing. If anything you need is missing from the files, list it as "Add: ...".
Here are my raw notes from a call with [customer name, role, company type]: [paste notes] Turn them into a customer note with: the problem in their words (quotes only if I wrote them down), what they use today, what they'd pay for, objections, and next step. Then tell me if anything here contradicts profile.md.
Save the customer note as a new file in the project, so the next chat can use it. Chats you started outside the project can be moved in: click the arrow next to the chat name and choose Add to project.
7Keep it current in 5 minutes a week
What's next
Connect your email, calendar and Drive in Run your inbox, calendar and docs with Claude, then use the project to map your market with Research. Ready to turn repeat jobs into one-click routines? See build a skill, or put your company brain to work on your pitch deck.