diff --git a/backend/autometabuilder/web/routes/run.py b/backend/autometabuilder/web/routes/run.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f493de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/autometabuilder/web/routes/run.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+"""Run route for triggering the bot."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from flask import Blueprint, request
+
+from ..run_state import start_bot
+
+run_bp = Blueprint("run", __name__)
+
+
+@run_bp.route("/api/run", methods=["POST"])
+def api_run() -> tuple[dict[str, object], int]:
+    payload = request.get_json(silent=True) or {}
+    mode = payload.get("mode", "once")
+    iterations = int(payload.get("iterations", 1))
+    yolo = bool(payload.get("yolo", True))
+    stop_at_mvp = bool(payload.get("stop_at_mvp", False))
+    started = start_bot(mode, iterations, yolo, stop_at_mvp)
+    return {"started": started}, 202 if started else 409