diff --git a/start-app.sh b/start-app.sh
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/start-app.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+echo "[start-app] Starting Task Manager on Kubernetes..."
+
+# Note: this script assumes ./prepare-app.sh has already been run successfully
+# (images built into minikube, hostPath dir created, PV applied). Re-applying
+# the prepare-stage manifests below is idempotent and safe, but does NOT build
+# images or create the hostPath dir. Without prepare-app.sh, pods will fail with
+# ImagePullBackOff.
+
+echo "[start-app] Applying namespace.yaml..."
+kubectl apply -f namespace.yaml
+
+echo "[start-app] Applying statefulset.yaml..."
+kubectl apply -f statefulset.yaml
+
+echo "[start-app] Applying service.yaml..."
+kubectl apply -f service.yaml
+
+echo "[start-app] Applying deployment.yaml..."
+kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml
+
+# Wait for everything to become ready
+echo "[start-app] Waiting for db StatefulSet..."
+kubectl -n taskapp rollout status statefulset/db --timeout=180s
+
+echo "[start-app] Waiting for api Deployment..."
+kubectl -n taskapp rollout status deployment/api --timeout=180s
+
+echo "[start-app] Waiting for web Deployment..."
+kubectl -n taskapp rollout status deployment/web --timeout=180s
+
+echo ""
+echo "[start-app] App is running!"
+echo "[start-app] Opening browser at the web service URL..."
+minikube service web -n taskapp