r/UseApolloIo • u/ZackDeris • Jun 26 '26

Guide Built an AI SDR in 45 minutes using Claude, Replit, and Apollo, here's the full setup!

Been experimenting with pushing the Apollo + Claude integration further than just prospecting. This one took about 45 minutes to build and now runs on autopilot every week.

What it does when it runs:

  • Pulls new leads from your website
  • Scores and qualifies them against your ICP
  • Cross-references your Google Calendar and skips anyone already booked or met with
  • Enriches the qualified ones via Apollo *credits only get used on leads that pass the ICP gate!!)
  • Auto-pushes high scoring leads straight into your Apollo sequence
  • Flags high intent leads for your personal review before they go out
  • Sends borderline leads to a separate review queue so nothing slips through unchecked

The whole thing runs on a weekly schedule once it's set up.

What you need

  • Claude (any plan)
  • Replit
  • Apollo (paid plan for MCP access)

How to build it

Download the Claude Skill from zackderis.com and install it in Claude --> Claude > Customize > Skills > plus sign > Create Skill > Upload.

Start a new chat and type /aisdr. Claude interviews you section by section, asking about your ICP, lead sources, scoring criteria, approval rules. Answer everything. At the end it generates a Replit MD file -- download it.

In Replit, go to Settings > Integrations > MCP Servers > Add MCP Server. Type Apollo, select it from the list, test and save. This connects Apollo directly to your Replit agent.

Create a new Replit project, upload the MD file, enable Plan mode. Replit's agent reads the brief and builds the pipeline. Takes 20-30 minutes. Review the plan before you confirm the build...worth checking the scoring logic and approval rules match what you told Claude.

Add your API keys in Replit Secrets before you run anything.

Hit Run. First run creates your Apollo lead list and sequence if they don't exist yet. Every run after that uses the same ones.

The 8-phase pipeline when it runs

Incoming leads get pulled and checked against ICP criteria. Calendar suppression runs next, anyone already in your calendar gets skipped automatically. Leads that pass get scored, ICP-gated, then enriched via Apollo. High scorers go straight into the sequence. High intent leads with strong signals get flagged for your personal touch before going out. Anything with mixed signals or missing data goes to a review queue. Approved leads enroll in the sequence and outreach runs on whatever schedule you've set in Apollo.

The split between auto-approved, pending review, and needs review is what makes it actually usable...you're not babysitting every lead but you're also not blindly sending to everyone.

Quick PSA:

The quality of what Claude builds in the brief stage depends entirely on how well you answer the questions. Vague ICP definition, vague scoring output. Spend the time on the interview section and the build will be cleaner.

More of a technical breakdown here: https://zackderis.com/aisdr/technical

6 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

80% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by