diff --git a/starter_kit/START_HERE.md b/starter_kit/START_HERE.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/starter_kit/START_HERE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Parameter Golf Starter Kit
+
+This folder is a low-budget workflow to get from first run to a valid non-record PR.
+
+## 1) Fork + set your remote
+
+From your local repo root:
+
+```bash
+git remote rename origin upstream
+git remote add origin https://github.com/YOUR_GITHUB_USERNAME/parameter-golf.git
+git fetch upstream
+git checkout -b exp/first-runs upstream/main
+git push -u origin exp/first-runs
+```
+
+## 2) On RunPod: first smoke run
+
+Use scripts in `starter_kit/scripts`:
+
+1. `01_runpod_bootstrap.sh`
+2. `02_smoke_run.sh`
+
+## 3) Promote to serious run
+
+Run `03_full_run.sh` once smoke logs look healthy.
+
+## 4) Prepare a PR-ready records folder
+
+Run:
+
+```bash
+python starter_kit/scripts/prepare_submission.py \
+  --track non-record \
+  --run-name my_first_non_record \
+  --author-name "Your Name" \
+  --github-id "your_github" \
+  --val-bpb 1.1999
+```
+
+Then copy your real train log into the generated folder and edit README details.
+
+## 5) Submission checklist
+
+- Folder only adds one new path under `records/track_non_record_16mb/` or `records/track_10min_16mb/`.
+- Includes `README.md`, `submission.json`, `train_gpt.py`, and train log.
+- Repro steps are explicit and complete.
+- No validation-data leakage or rule violations.
diff --git a/starter_kit/notes/EXPERIMENT_LOG_TEMPLATE.md b/starter_kit/notes/EXPERIMENT_LOG_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d5803ee6eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/starter_kit/notes/EXPERIMENT_LOG_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Experiment Log Template
+
+## Run Metadata
+
+- run_id:
+- date:
+- gpu:
+- cost_estimate_usd:
+- dataset_variant:
+- train_shards:
+- max_wallclock_seconds:
+
+## Config Delta
+
+- base_commit:
+- branch:
+- changed_hparams:
+- changed_code_paths:
+
+## Outcomes
+
+- val_loss:
+- val_bpb:
+- final_int8_zlib_roundtrip_bytes:
+- step_count:
+- runtime_seconds:
+
+## Decision
+
+- keep / drop:
+- reason:
+- next test:
diff --git a/starter_kit/scripts/01_runpod_bootstrap.sh b/starter_kit/scripts/01_runpod_bootstrap.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..db2a49b041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/starter_kit/scripts/01_runpod_bootstrap.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Usage:
+#   bash starter_kit/scripts/01_runpod_bootstrap.sh https://github.com/YOUR_GITHUB_USERNAME/parameter-golf.git
+
+FORK_URL="${1:-}"
+if [[ -z "$FORK_URL" ]]; then
+  echo "Provide your fork URL as first arg."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+cd /workspace
+if [[ ! -d parameter-golf ]]; then
+  git clone "$FORK_URL" parameter-golf
+fi
+
+cd parameter-golf
+git remote -v
+
+echo "Downloading small dataset slice for low-cost iteration..."
+python3 data/cached_challenge_fineweb.py --variant sp1024 --train-shards 1
+
+echo "Bootstrap complete. Run: bash starter_kit/scripts/02_smoke_run.sh"
diff --git a/starter_kit/scripts/02_smoke_run.sh b/starter_kit/scripts/02_smoke_run.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d2a65eb299
--- /dev/null
+++ b/starter_kit/scripts/02_smoke_run.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Quick low-cost run (~4 minutes max)
+cd /workspace/parameter-golf
+
+RUN_ID="${RUN_ID:-smoke_sp1024_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)}"
+export RUN_ID
+export DATA_PATH=./data/datasets/fineweb10B_sp1024/
+export TOKENIZER_PATH=./data/tokenizers/fineweb_1024_bpe.model
+export VOCAB_SIZE=1024
+export MAX_WALLCLOCK_SECONDS=240
+export VAL_LOSS_EVERY=0
+
+mkdir -p logs
+
+torchrun --standalone --nproc_per_node=1 train_gpt.py | tee "logs/${RUN_ID}.log"
+
+echo "Smoke run done: logs/${RUN_ID}.log"
diff --git a/starter_kit/scripts/03_full_run.sh b/starter_kit/scripts/03_full_run.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3035395f9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/starter_kit/scripts/03_full_run.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Full baseline-style run (~10 minutes)
+cd /workspace/parameter-golf
+
+RUN_ID="${RUN_ID:-full_sp1024_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)}"
+export RUN_ID
+export DATA_PATH=./data/datasets/fineweb10B_sp1024/
+export TOKENIZER_PATH=./data/tokenizers/fineweb_1024_bpe.model
+export VOCAB_SIZE=1024
+export MAX_WALLCLOCK_SECONDS=600
+export VAL_LOSS_EVERY=200
+
+mkdir -p logs
+
+torchrun --standalone --nproc_per_node=1 train_gpt.py | tee "logs/${RUN_ID}.log"
+
+echo "Full run done: logs/${RUN_ID}.log"
diff --git a/starter_kit/scripts/prepare_submission.py b/starter_kit/scripts/prepare_submission.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d41943256b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/starter_kit/scripts/prepare_submission.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import argparse
+import datetime as dt
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+import shutil
+
+
+def main() -> None:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Create a PR-ready records folder.")
+    parser.add_argument("--track", choices=["record", "non-record"], required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--run-name", required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--author-name", required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--github-id", required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--val-bpb", type=float, required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--source-train-script", default="train_gpt.py")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    repo_root = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+    date = dt.datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
+    slug = f"{date}_{args.run_name}"
+
+    if args.track == "record":
+        track_dir = repo_root / "records" / "track_10min_16mb"
+    else:
+        track_dir = repo_root / "records" / "track_non_record_16mb"
+
+    out_dir = track_dir / slug
+    out_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=False)
+
+    template_dir = repo_root / "starter_kit" / "templates"
+    readme_tpl = (template_dir / "README_submission_template.md").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    readme = (
+        readme_tpl
+        .replace("{{RUN_NAME}}", args.run_name)
+        .replace("{{DATE}}", date)
+        .replace("{{TRACK}}", args.track)
+        .replace("{{AUTHOR_NAME}}", args.author_name)
+        .replace("{{GITHUB_ID}}", args.github_id)
+        .replace("{{VAL_BPB}}", f"{args.val_bpb:.4f}")
+    )
+    (out_dir / "README.md").write_text(readme, encoding="utf-8")
+
+    submission = {
+        "author_name": args.author_name,
+        "github_id": args.github_id,
+        "run_name": args.run_name,
+        "track": args.track,
+        "val_bpb": round(args.val_bpb, 4),
+        "date": date,
+        "notes": "Fill out details and attach train logs."
+    }
+    (out_dir / "submission.json").write_text(json.dumps(submission, indent=2) + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    source_script = repo_root / args.source_train_script
+    if not source_script.exists():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Could not find train script: {source_script}")
+    shutil.copy2(source_script, out_dir / "train_gpt.py")
+
+    (out_dir / "train.log").write_text("# Paste or copy real run logs here\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    print(f"Created: {out_dir}")
+    print("Next: copy your actual log into train.log and complete README details.")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/starter_kit/templates/README_submission_template.md b/starter_kit/templates/README_submission_template.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b06bb2d6d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/starter_kit/templates/README_submission_template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# {{RUN_NAME}}
+
+- Date: {{DATE}}
+- Track: {{TRACK}}
+- Author: {{AUTHOR_NAME}} ({{GITHUB_ID}})
+- Reported val_bpb: {{VAL_BPB}}
+
+## Summary
+
+Short summary of the idea and why it may help.
+
+## What Changed
+
+- List architecture changes.
+- List optimization and schedule changes.
+- List quantization or eval changes.
+
+## Repro Command
+
+```bash
+RUN_ID={{RUN_NAME}} \
+DATA_PATH=./data/datasets/fineweb10B_sp1024/ \
+TOKENIZER_PATH=./data/tokenizers/fineweb_1024_bpe.model \
+VOCAB_SIZE=1024 \
+torchrun --standalone --nproc_per_node=1 train_gpt.py
+```
+
+## Results
+
+- val_bpb:
+- val_loss:
+- compressed_bytes:
+- wallclock_seconds:
+
+## Notes
+
+Any caveats, negative findings, or follow-up experiments.
diff --git a/starter_kit/templates/submission.json.template b/starter_kit/templates/submission.json.template
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..43550e7f7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/starter_kit/templates/submission.json.template
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "author_name": "Your Name",
+  "github_id": "your_github",
+  "run_name": "your_run_name",
+  "track": "non-record",
+  "val_bpb": 1.2000,
+  "date": "YYYY-MM-DD",
+  "notes": "Fill with concise methodology and constraints."
+}