Ideal Prospects with ChatGPT and Apollo
Learn how to build a custom GPT in ChatGPT that finds the right person per company based on your ideal customer profile using Apollo — no coding required.
June 12, 2025
In this tutorial, you'll learn how to integrate Apollo with ChatGPT using Caddey to find ideal prospects based on your customer profile. By setting up a custom GPT that connects to Caddey, you'll be able to search Apollo's massive database to find the right person at target companies, enrich their contact information, and identify prospects that match your ideal customer profile – all through natural language conversations. Let's get started!
Prerequisites
- ChatGPT Plus/Pro subscription: Access to custom GPT creation features in ChatGPT.
- Caddey account: A Caddey account to create an OAuth client and connect Apollo.
- Apollo account: An Apollo account with API access (paid plan required for most features).
Step 1: Create a Caddey OAuth Client
- Log in to Caddey: Sign in to your Caddey account and navigate to the Clients section.
- Add a new client: Click Add Client, name it (e.g., "Apollo Prospect Finder"), choose Confidential as the client type, and optionally add a description like "Find ideal prospects using Apollo's database."
- Leave redirect URI empty for now: We'll get the exact callback URL from ChatGPT in the next steps.
- Save the client: Click Save. Caddey will generate a Client ID and Client Secret for your OAuth client—copy both now as you'll need them for authentication.
The OAuth client represents your ChatGPT assistant's identity in Caddey. It allows ChatGPT to securely authenticate and call Apollo actions through Caddey using OAuth 2.0.
Step 2: Create Apollo API Key
- Log into Apollo: Go to apollo.io and sign in to your account.
- Navigate to Integrations: Click on Admin Settings at the bottom left, then select Integrations.
- Find API section: Look for the API section or API Keys option.
- Create API Key: Click Create new key or + Create API Key and give it a descriptive name like "Caddey Integration".
- Copy the API Key: Once created, copy the API key - you'll need it in the next step.
Make sure you're using a paid Apollo plan as most search and enrichment features require credits. Free plans have very limited API access.
Step 3: Connect Apollo in Caddey
- Navigate to Apps: In the left sidebar of your Caddey dashboard, click Apps.
- Go to Marketplace: Click the Marketplace button to view available integrations.
- Find Apollo: Search for or scroll to find Apollo in the marketplace.
- Click Connect: Click the Connect button on the Apollo app card.
- Enter API Key: In the connection dialog, paste your Apollo API key from Step 2 into the API key field.
- Complete Connection: Click Connect to finish the integration setup.
Step 4: Create Apollo Tools Toolbox
- Navigate to Toolboxes: In the left sidebar, click Toolboxes.
- Create a new toolbox: Click Create Toolbox and name it "Apollo Prospect Tools".
- Add Apollo tools: Click Add Tools and select the Apollo tools you want to use:
- Search People - Find prospects in Apollo's database
- Search Organizations - Find target companies
- Save the toolbox: Click Save to create your Apollo toolbox.
Step 5: Assign the Toolbox to Your Client
- Open your client: Return to Clients, and select your "Apollo Prospect Finder" client.
- Add the toolbox: In the client's Toolboxes tab, click Add Toolbox and choose Apollo Prospect Tools.
Step 6: Create a Custom GPT in ChatGPT
- Open ChatGPT: Log into your ChatGPT Plus/Pro account and click Explore GPTs or Create GPT.
- Name your GPT: Enter a title, for example, "Apollo Prospect Finder".
- Add a description: Something like "Helps find ideal prospects and contacts using Apollo's database via Caddey".
- Set the personality: Add instructions like: "You are an expert sales prospecting assistant. Help users find the right people at target companies based on their ideal customer profile. Always ask clarifying questions about their target market, company size, job titles, and industries before searching."
Step 7: Connect the GPT to Caddey
- Add an action: In the GPT builder, click Add Action to configure an external API call.
- Configure authentication:
- Method: OAuth
- Authorization URL:
https://auth.caddey.ai/realms/caddey/protocol/openid-connect/auth
- Token URL:
https://auth.caddey.ai/realms/caddey/protocol/openid-connect/token
- Client ID: Your Caddey OAuth Client ID
- Client Secret: Your Caddey OAuth Client Secret
- Scope:
openid profile email offline_access
- Import OpenAPI schema: Choose Import OpenAPI from a URL and enter:
https://api.caddey.ai/v3/api-docs/tools
- Verify endpoints: Ensure ChatGPT sees:
- GET
/tools/query
(lists available tools) - POST
/tools/{toolId}/execute
(executes a tool)
- GET
- Save the action to generate the callback URL.
- Find the Callback URL: Navigate back to your GPT's main Configure screen (not the action configuration). You should now see a "Callback URL" displayed on this screen. Copy this exact URL.
- Update your Caddey OAuth Client: Go back to your Caddey dashboard, edit the OAuth client you created in Step 1, and add the callback URL you just copied to the Redirect URIs field. Save the client.
Important: The callback URL only appears on your GPT's main Configure screen after you've saved the action with OAuth configuration. If you don't see it immediately, make sure you've saved the action and are looking at your GPT's main Configure screen, not the individual action settings.
Step 8: Test Your Apollo Prospect Finder
Switch to the preview or start a chat with your new GPT:
- List available tools: Ask, "What tools can you use?"—it should list your Apollo tools.
- Search for prospects: Try, "Find me marketing directors at SaaS companies with 50-200 employees." The GPT will use Apollo's people search.
- Search for companies: Ask, "Find SaaS companies with 100-500 employees in San Francisco." It will use Apollo's organization search.
- Find specific contacts: Prompt, "Find the VP of Sales at Salesforce." The GPT will search for that person in Apollo's database.
Be specific about your ideal customer profile. The more details you provide about target job titles, company sizes, industries, and locations, the better results you'll get from Apollo's search.
Step 9: Advanced Prospect Finding Strategies
Your Apollo GPT can help with sophisticated prospecting workflows:
- Multi-step searches: "First find fast-growing fintech companies with 100-500 employees, then find their heads of marketing."
- Competitive analysis: "Find all the sales directors at companies similar to [competitor name]."
- Territory planning: "Show me all the decision makers at software companies in the San Francisco Bay Area."
- Account-based marketing: "For each of these 10 target companies, find me the CMO and VP of Sales."
Finalize and Deploy Your GPT
Once testing succeeds, click Save or Done in the GPT builder. Your Apollo Prospect Finder will now appear in your ChatGPT interface—ready to help you find ideal prospects through natural language.
Troubleshooting
GPT can't access Apollo tools:
- Verify your Apollo API key is correct and active
- Ensure your Apollo account has sufficient credits
- Check that the OAuth client redirect URI matches ChatGPT's callback URL
Search results are too broad:
- Be more specific with job titles, company sizes, and industries
- Use location filters to narrow down results
- Specify seniority levels (C-level, VP, Director, Manager)
Limited search results:
- Apollo's search results depend on your plan and available credits
- Try different search criteria or broader parameters
- Consider refining your ideal customer profile criteria
Your Apollo integration is now ready to help you find the perfect prospects for your business!