diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 081ccc1..07cd23a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This project includes web components for connecting to Lightning wallets and ena
 
 ## 🛝 Try it out here
 
-https://getalby.github.io/bitcoin-connect
+[Bitcoin Connect Landing](https://getalby.github.io/bitcoin-connect)
 
 ## 🚀 Quick Start
 
@@ -22,22 +22,46 @@ https://getalby.github.io/bitcoin-connect
 
 You can use Bitcoin Connect without any build tools:
 
-```
+```html
 <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@getalby/bitcoin-connect@1.1.2/dist/index.browser.js"></script>
 ```
 
 ## 🤙 Usage
 
+### React
+
+```jsx
+import {Button, Modal, launchModal} from '@getalby/bitcoin-connect-react';
+
+// render a button
+<Button onConnect={() => alert('Connected!')} />
+// include the modal on the page (will not be rendered unless launchModal is called)
+<Modal onConnect={() => alert('Connected!')} />
+
+// open modal programmatically
+<button onClick={launchModal}>
+  Programmatically launch modal
+</button>
+```
+
+### Pure HTML
+
+#### Components
+
 Bitcoin Connect exposes the following web components for allowing users to connect their desired Lightning wallet:
 
 - `<bc-button/>` - launches the Bitcoin Connect Modal on click
   - Optional Arguments:
     - `icon-only` - display the button as an icon without "Connect wallet"
     - `disabled` - mark the button as disabled
-- `<bc-modal/>` - render the modal on its own
+- `<bc-modal/>` - render the modal on its own.
+  - Optional Arguments:
+    - `open` - make the modal appear
 - `<bc-connector-list/>` - render the list of connectors on their own
 - _more components coming soon_
 
+#### Window Events
+
 Bitcoin Connect exposes the following events:
 
 - `bc:connected` window event which fires when a wallet is connected and window.webln is ready to use
@@ -46,15 +70,15 @@ Bitcoin Connect exposes the following events:
 - `bc:modalopened` window event which fires when Bitcoin Connect modal is opened
 - `bc:modalclosed` window event which fires when Bitcoin Connect modal is closed
 
-Current wallets supported:
+#### Programmatically launching the modal
 
-- [Alby Browser extension](https://getalby.com)
-- [Alby NWC](https://nwc.getalby.com)
-- [Generic NWC URL](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/47.md)
+`<bc-modal/>` needs to be rendered somewhere on the page. The modal can then be launched with:
+
+`document.querySelector('bc-modal').setAttribute('open', true)`
 
 ### Styling
 
-- the following CSS variables can be configured:
+The following CSS variables can be configured:
 
 ```css
 html {
@@ -68,39 +92,39 @@ html {
 }
 ```
 
-# Demos
+## Demos
 
-### Pure HTML
+### Pure HTML Demo
 
 See [Pure HTML](./demos/html/README.md)
 
-> Example codepen: https://codepen.io/rolznz/pen/ZEmXGLd
+> [Example codepen](https://codepen.io/rolznz/pen/ZEmXGLd)
 
-### React
+### React Demo
 
 See [React](./demos/react/README.md)
 
-> Example replit: https://replit.com/@rolznz/make-me-an-image-nwc-version
+> [Example replit](https://replit.com/@rolznz/make-me-an-image-nwc-version)
 
 ### More demos
 
 Open [demos](demos/README.md)
 
-# 🛠️ Development
+## 🛠️ Development
 
-## Install
+### Install
 
 Run `yarn install && (cd dev/vite && yarn install)`
 
-## Run Vite
+### Run Vite
 
 Run `yarn dev`
 
-## Other dev options
+### Other dev options
 
 Open [dev](dev/README.md)
 
-## Production Build
+### Production Build
 
 `yarn build`
 
@@ -112,11 +136,11 @@ Open [dev](dev/README.md)
 
 `yarn dev:build:browser`
 
-## Testing
+### Testing
 
 `yarn test`
 
-# Need help?
+## Need help?
 
 We are happy to help, please contact us or create an issue.
 
@@ -161,7 +185,13 @@ You should have a certain level of trust on the website you decide to connect yo
 1. add the "Connect Wallet" button
 2. wait for a connection event (using window.addEventListener) and then request to pay the invoice with window.webln
 
-# 🔥 Lit
+### What connectors are supported?
+
+- [Alby Browser extension](https://getalby.com)
+- [Alby NWC](https://nwc.getalby.com)
+- [Generic NWC URL](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/47.md)
+
+## 🔥 Lit
 
 This project is powered by Lit.
 
diff --git a/demos/react/package.json b/demos/react/package.json
index 2df3a9e..d6c4fe8 100644
--- a/demos/react/package.json
+++ b/demos/react/package.json
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@getalby/bitcoin-connect-react": "^1.0.1",
-    "alby-tools": "^3.2.1",
+    "@getalby/lightning-tools": "^4.0.2",
     "react": "^18.2.0",
-    "react-dom": "^18.2.0"
+    "react-dom": "^18.2.0",
+    "react-hot-toast": "^2.4.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/react": "^18.2.15",
diff --git a/demos/react/src/App.tsx b/demos/react/src/App.tsx
index 5ffdb5e..edc8604 100644
--- a/demos/react/src/App.tsx
+++ b/demos/react/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React from 'react';
-import {LightningAddress} from 'alby-tools';
-import {Button} from '@getalby/bitcoin-connect-react';
+import {LightningAddress} from '@getalby/lightning-tools';
+import {Button, Modal, launchModal} from '@getalby/bitcoin-connect-react';
+import toast, {Toaster} from 'react-hot-toast';
 
 function App() {
   const [invoice, setInvoice] = React.useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
@@ -41,8 +42,10 @@ function App() {
 
   return (
     <>
+      <Toaster />
       <h1>Bitcoin Connect React</h1>
-      <Button onConnect={() => alert('Connected!')} />
+      <Modal onConnect={() => toast('Modal Connected!')} />
+      <Button onConnect={() => toast('Connected!')} />
       <div style={{marginTop: '16px'}}>
         {preimage ? (
           <p>
@@ -55,6 +58,9 @@ function App() {
           <p>Loading invoice...</p>
         )}
       </div>
+      <button style={{marginTop: '16px'}} onClick={launchModal}>
+        Programmatically launch modal
+      </button>
     </>
   );
 }
diff --git a/demos/react/yarn.lock b/demos/react/yarn.lock
index 1a1b214..d97d121 100644
--- a/demos/react/yarn.lock
+++ b/demos/react/yarn.lock
@@ -165,6 +165,14 @@
     lit "^2.2.4"
     zustand "^4.4.1"
 
+"@getalby/lightning-tools@^4.0.2":
+  version "4.0.2"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@getalby/lightning-tools/-/lightning-tools-4.0.2.tgz#a6f5127ca768de28e87cff101508cd2d90590b60"
+  integrity sha512-6EOo4iqjc4BB37KPtzkTR2Fn/Bf5W7Zqb7sYW4pdPRHKTwbtPSgCFqsankAqn6pXxvnvy/kn0ueFz6af7zYijg==
+  dependencies:
+    crypto-js "^4.1.1"
+    light-bolt11-decoder "^3.0.0"
+
 "@getalby/sdk@^2.2.3":
   version "2.2.3"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@getalby/sdk/-/sdk-2.2.3.tgz#fda6de0bc241b59e7ed813204067c4d14b794668"
@@ -494,14 +502,6 @@ ajv@^6.12.4:
     json-schema-traverse "^0.4.1"
     uri-js "^4.2.2"
 
-alby-tools@^3.2.1:
-  version "3.2.1"
-  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/alby-tools/-/alby-tools-3.2.1.tgz#60f15983454b6635cd90da40f097d32fd0875308"
-  integrity sha512-dSQ6dBD/qXeBfF40g3PtzLo6yvN5w9zaQ9qeGFkez6feQ4qVMFq+iuxurCDTaR2KFxAf5fboWNZechl7DuH5Sw==
-  dependencies:
-    crypto-js "^4.1.1"
-    light-bolt11-decoder "^3.0.0"
-
 ansi-regex@^5.0.1:
   version "5.0.1"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/ansi-regex/-/ansi-regex-5.0.1.tgz#082cb2c89c9fe8659a311a53bd6a4dc5301db304"
@@ -874,6 +874,11 @@ globby@^11.1.0:
     merge2 "^1.4.1"
     slash "^3.0.0"
 
+goober@^2.1.10:
+  version "2.1.13"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/goober/-/goober-2.1.13.tgz#e3c06d5578486212a76c9eba860cbc3232ff6d7c"
+  integrity sha512-jFj3BQeleOoy7t93E9rZ2de+ScC4lQICLwiAQmKMg9F6roKGaLSHoCDYKkWlSafg138jejvq/mTdvmnwDQgqoQ==
+
 graphemer@^1.4.0:
   version "1.4.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/graphemer/-/graphemer-1.4.0.tgz#fb2f1d55e0e3a1849aeffc90c4fa0dd53a0e66c6"
@@ -1183,6 +1188,13 @@ react-dom@^18.2.0:
     loose-envify "^1.1.0"
     scheduler "^0.23.0"
 
+react-hot-toast@^2.4.1:
+  version "2.4.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/react-hot-toast/-/react-hot-toast-2.4.1.tgz#df04295eda8a7b12c4f968e54a61c8d36f4c0994"
+  integrity sha512-j8z+cQbWIM5LY37pR6uZR6D4LfseplqnuAO4co4u8917hBUvXlEqyP1ZzqVLcqoyUesZZv/ImreoCeHVDpE5pQ==
+  dependencies:
+    goober "^2.1.10"
+
 react@^18.2.0:
   version "18.2.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/react/-/react-18.2.0.tgz#555bd98592883255fa00de14f1151a917b5d77d5"
diff --git a/dev/vite/index.html b/dev/vite/index.html
index 4ef472c..e17d144 100644
--- a/dev/vite/index.html
+++ b/dev/vite/index.html
@@ -61,6 +61,14 @@
     </style>
   </head>
   <body>
+    <h1>Programmatic Access</h1>
+    <button
+      onclick="document.querySelector('bc-modal').setAttribute('open', true)"
+    >
+      Open modal
+    </button>
+    <bc-modal></bc-modal>
+
     <h1>Components</h1>
     <h2>Button</h2>
     <h3>Light</h3>
diff --git a/react/src/components/Modal.tsx b/react/src/components/Modal.tsx
index ac05eaa..2d116fd 100644
--- a/react/src/components/Modal.tsx
+++ b/react/src/components/Modal.tsx
@@ -12,3 +12,13 @@ export const Modal: React.FC<ModalProps> = (props) => {
   // @ts-ignore
   return <bc-modal />;
 };
+
+export function launchModal() {
+  const modal = document.querySelector('bc-modal');
+  if (!modal) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'bc-modal does not exist in the dom. Did you render the Modal somewhere on this page?'
+    );
+  }
+  modal.setAttribute('open', 'true');
+}
diff --git a/react/src/index.ts b/react/src/index.ts
index 99a1aa2..9a6e60f 100644
--- a/react/src/index.ts
+++ b/react/src/index.ts
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 export * from './components/Button';
+export * from './components/Modal';
diff --git a/src/components/bc-button.ts b/src/components/bc-button.ts
index deca78c..aa7d0f8 100644
--- a/src/components/bc-button.ts
+++ b/src/components/bc-button.ts
@@ -103,9 +103,11 @@ export class Button extends withTwind()(BitcoinConnectElement) {
             >`
           : null}
       </div>
-      ${this._modalOpen
-        ? html`<bc-modal .onClose=${this._closeModal}></bc-modal>`
-        : null}
+
+      <bc-modal
+        .open=${this._modalOpen}
+        .onClose=${this._closeModal}
+      ></bc-modal>
     </div>`;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/components/bc-modal.ts b/src/components/bc-modal.ts
index 68f1495..f93295b 100644
--- a/src/components/bc-modal.ts
+++ b/src/components/bc-modal.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ export class Modal extends withTwind()(BitcoinConnectElement) {
   @state()
   protected _closing = false;
 
+  @property()
+  open?: boolean = false;
+
   constructor() {
     super();
 
@@ -46,6 +49,10 @@ export class Modal extends withTwind()(BitcoinConnectElement) {
   }
 
   override render() {
+    if (!this.open) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
     return html` <div
       class="fixed top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex justify-center items-end sm:items-center z-[21000]"
     >
@@ -72,6 +79,8 @@ export class Modal extends withTwind()(BitcoinConnectElement) {
   private _handleClose = () => {
     this._closing = true;
     setTimeout(() => {
+      this.open = false;
+      this._closing = false;
       // Reset after close
       // TODO: is there a better way to reset state when the modal is closed?
       store.getState().setRoute('/start');