diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 232c91ec0..1dbaef453 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,6 +7,28 @@
 
 For detailed documentation refer to the [online documentation](http://www.be4web.net/ariane/) (Login: `zarubaf` Password: `zaruba`).
 
+## Getting Started
+
+Checkout the repository and initialize all submodules
+```
+git checkout git@iis-git.ee.ethz.ch:floce/ariane.git
+git submodule update --init --recursive
+```
+
+Build Ariane by using the Makefile:
+```
+make build
+```
+
+Start the simulation using Modelsim:
+```
+make sim
+```
+
+Or start any of the unit tests by:
+```
+make dcache_arbiter
+```
 # Contributing
 
 Check out the [contribution guide](CONTRIBUTING.md)
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