diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index 628cc31..db03656 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -7,4 +7,8 @@ RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
 
 COPY . .
 
-CMD ["uvicorn", "main:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000"]
+# Make startup script executable
+RUN chmod +x start.sh
+
+# Run migrations then start server
+CMD ["./start.sh"]
diff --git a/backend/add_link_columns.py b/backend/migrations/add_link_columns.py
similarity index 100%
rename from backend/add_link_columns.py
rename to backend/migrations/add_link_columns.py
diff --git a/backend/add_parent_id_column.py b/backend/migrations/add_parent_id_column.py
similarity index 100%
rename from backend/add_parent_id_column.py
rename to backend/migrations/add_parent_id_column.py
diff --git a/backend/add_reaction_table.py b/backend/migrations/add_reaction_table.py
similarity index 100%
rename from backend/add_reaction_table.py
rename to backend/migrations/add_reaction_table.py
diff --git a/backend/start.sh b/backend/start.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c46756e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+echo "🔄 Running database migrations..."
+
+# Run any migration scripts that exist
+for script in /app/migrations/*.py; do
+    if [ -f "$script" ]; then
+        echo "  Running: $(basename $script)"
+        python "$script" || echo "  ⚠️ Migration $script failed (may already be applied)"
+    fi
+done
+
+echo "✅ Migrations complete. Starting server..."
+
+# Start the main application
+exec uvicorn main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000