> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://lumena.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> A permissionless fundraising and futarchy governance protocol for builders on Stellar.

# Lumena 101

## Community ownership matters

When your users become your stakeholders, everything changes. They become your distribution channel, your most vocal advocates, and the community that sustains you through the hard parts of building.

Lumena is the protocol to make this happen on Stellar — without VCs and gatekeepers, or trust requirements.

<Card title="Start here" icon="rocket" horizontal href="/quickstart">
  Follow our three step quickstart guide.
</Card>

## What is Lumena?

Lumena is a protocol with two interconnected functions:

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Permissionless Raises" icon="rocket-launch" href="/development">
    Any builder can deploy a fundraising smart contract directly. No application, no committee, no gatekeeping. Funds are held in escrow until the target is met. Monthly pre-approved spend allowances.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Futarchy Governance" icon="people-line" href="/essentials/settings">
    Project decisions are made by decision markets, not token votes. Participants stake conviction to influence outcomes creating governance that rewards being right.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Smart Escrow by Default" icon="lock" href="/essentials/navigation">
    Funds are locked in smart contract escrow until the raise target is met. If the target is missed, every contributor is refunded automatically — no trust required.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Built on Stellar" icon="planet-ringed" href="/api-reference/introduction">
    \~5 second finality, sub-cent transaction fees, and native stablecoins as the contribution currency. Fast, cheap, and dollar-stable.
  </Card>
</Columns>

## How it works?

Everything you need to create world-class documentation.

<Card title="A creator deploys a raise contract" color="#fafafa" icon="1" horizontal href="https://mintlify.com/customers">
  Connect a Stellar wallet, set a fundraising target and duration, and pay the 200 XLM deployment fee. The smart fundraising contract is live instantly — no approval required from Lumena or anyone else.
</Card>

<Card title="The community funds it" icon="2" horizontal href="https://mintlify.com/customers">
  Anyone with a Stellar wallet can contribute. Cross-chain deposits are enabled. All funds accumulate in the contract's escrow account, publicly visible onchain in real time.
</Card>

<Card title="Target met or deadline expires" icon="3" horizontal href="https://mintlify.com/customers">
  If the raise hits its target, funds are released to the creator. If the deadline passes without reaching the target, every contributor gets a full refund — automatically, enforced by the contract.
</Card>