diff --git a/api/.env.example b/api/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b167564
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+## copy this file and rename it to .env. Fill in the values from Notion
+
+# server
+PORT=8000
+
+# email service
+SEND_GRID_API_KEY=##check notion##
+SEND_GRID_TEST_EMAIL=##check notion##
+
+# database
+MONGO_URI=##check notion##
+
+# backend auth
+CLIENT_ORIGIN_URL=http://localhost:4040
+AUTH0_AUDIENCE=##check notion##
+AUTH0_DOMAIN=##check notion##
diff --git a/api/assets/pww-logo.png b/api/assets/pww-logo.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0f5a06
Binary files /dev/null and b/api/assets/pww-logo.png differ
diff --git a/api/package-lock.json b/api/package-lock.json
index 1b26ce5..3d1b60b 100644
--- a/api/package-lock.json
+++ b/api/package-lock.json
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "license": "ISC",
       "dependencies": {
+        "@sendgrid/mail": "^8.1.4",
         "cors": "^2.8.5",
         "dotenv": "^16.4.5",
         "express": "^4.21.0",
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/cors": "^2.8.17",
         "@types/express": "^4.17.21",
-        "@types/node": "^22.5.4",
+        "@types/node": "^22.8.1",
         "@types/uuid": "^10.0.0",
         "body-parser": "^1.20.3",
         "prettier": "^3.3.3",
@@ -68,6 +69,41 @@
         "sparse-bitfield": "^3.0.3"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/@sendgrid/client": {
+      "version": "8.1.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@sendgrid/client/-/client-8.1.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VxZoQ82MpxmjSXLR3ZAE2OWxvQIW2k2G24UeRPr/SYX8HqWLV/8UBN15T2WmjjnEb5XSmFImTJOKDzzSeKr9YQ==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@sendgrid/helpers": "^8.0.0",
+        "axios": "^1.7.4"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12.*"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@sendgrid/helpers": {
+      "version": "8.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@sendgrid/helpers/-/helpers-8.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Ze7WuW2Xzy5GT5WRx+yEv89fsg/pgy3T1E3FS0QEx0/VvRmigMZ5qyVGhJz4SxomegDkzXv/i0aFPpHKN8qdAA==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "deepmerge": "^4.2.2"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 12.0.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@sendgrid/mail": {
+      "version": "8.1.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@sendgrid/mail/-/mail-8.1.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-MUpIZykD9ARie8LElYCqbcBhGGMaA/E6I7fEcG7Hc2An26QJyLtwOaKQ3taGp8xO8BICPJrSKuYV4bDeAJKFGQ==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@sendgrid/client": "^8.1.4",
+        "@sendgrid/helpers": "^8.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12.*"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@tsconfig/node10": {
       "version": "1.0.11",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tsconfig/node10/-/node10-1.0.11.tgz",
@@ -153,11 +189,11 @@
       "dev": true
     },
     "node_modules/@types/node": {
-      "version": "22.5.4",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-22.5.4.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-FDuKUJQm/ju9fT/SeX/6+gBzoPzlVCzfzmGkwKvRHQVxi4BntVbyIwf6a4Xn62mrvndLiml6z/UBXIdEVjQLXg==",
+      "version": "22.8.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-22.8.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-k6Gi8Yyo8EtrNtkHXutUu2corfDf9su95VYVP10aGYMMROM6SAItZi0w1XszA6RtWTHSVp5OeFof37w0IEqCQg==",
       "dependencies": {
-        "undici-types": "~6.19.2"
+        "undici-types": "~6.19.8"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@types/qs": {
@@ -278,6 +314,21 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/array-flatten/-/array-flatten-1.1.1.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-PCVAQswWemu6UdxsDFFX/+gVeYqKAod3D3UVm91jHwynguOwAvYPhx8nNlM++NqRcK6CxxpUafjmhIdKiHibqg=="
     },
+    "node_modules/asynckit": {
+      "version": "0.4.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/asynckit/-/asynckit-0.4.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Oei9OH4tRh0YqU3GxhX79dM/mwVgvbZJaSNaRk+bshkj0S5cfHcgYakreBjrHwatXKbz+IoIdYLxrKim2MjW0Q=="
+    },
+    "node_modules/axios": {
+      "version": "1.7.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/axios/-/axios-1.7.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-S4kL7XrjgBmvdGut0sN3yJxqYzrDOnivkBiN0OFs6hLiUam3UPvswUo0kqGyhqUZGEOytHyumEdXsAkgCOUf3Q==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "follow-redirects": "^1.15.6",
+        "form-data": "^4.0.0",
+        "proxy-from-env": "^1.1.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/balanced-match": {
       "version": "1.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/balanced-match/-/balanced-match-1.0.2.tgz",
@@ -400,6 +451,17 @@
         "fsevents": "~2.3.2"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/combined-stream": {
+      "version": "1.0.8",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/combined-stream/-/combined-stream-1.0.8.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-FQN4MRfuJeHf7cBbBMJFXhKSDq+2kAArBlmRBvcvFE5BB1HZKXtSFASDhdlz9zOYwxh8lDdnvmMOe/+5cdoEdg==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "delayed-stream": "~1.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 0.8"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/concat-map": {
       "version": "0.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/concat-map/-/concat-map-0.0.1.tgz",
@@ -462,6 +524,14 @@
         "ms": "2.0.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/deepmerge": {
+      "version": "4.3.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/deepmerge/-/deepmerge-4.3.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-3sUqbMEc77XqpdNO7FRyRog+eW3ph+GYCbj+rK+uYyRMuwsVy0rMiVtPn+QJlKFvWP/1PYpapqYn0Me2knFn+A==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=0.10.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/define-data-property": {
       "version": "1.1.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/define-data-property/-/define-data-property-1.1.4.tgz",
@@ -478,6 +548,14 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/ljharb"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/delayed-stream": {
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/delayed-stream/-/delayed-stream-1.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ZySD7Nf91aLB0RxL4KGrKHBXl7Eds1DAmEdcoVawXnLD7SDhpNgtuII2aAkg7a7QS41jxPSZ17p4VdGnMHk3MQ==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=0.4.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/depd": {
       "version": "2.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/depd/-/depd-2.0.0.tgz",
@@ -636,6 +714,38 @@
         "node": ">= 0.8"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/follow-redirects": {
+      "version": "1.15.9",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/follow-redirects/-/follow-redirects-1.15.9.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-gew4GsXizNgdoRyqmyfMHyAmXsZDk6mHkSxZFCzW9gwlbtOW44CDtYavM+y+72qD/Vq2l550kMF52DT8fOLJqQ==",
+      "funding": [
+        {
+          "type": "individual",
+          "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/RubenVerborgh"
+        }
+      ],
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=4.0"
+      },
+      "peerDependenciesMeta": {
+        "debug": {
+          "optional": true
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/form-data": {
+      "version": "4.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/form-data/-/form-data-4.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-tzN8e4TX8+kkxGPK8D5u0FNmjPUjw3lwC9lSLxxoB/+GtsJG91CO8bSWy73APlgAZzZbXEYZJuxjkHH2w+Ezhw==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "asynckit": "^0.4.0",
+        "combined-stream": "^1.0.8",
+        "mime-types": "^2.1.12"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 6"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/forwarded": {
       "version": "0.2.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/forwarded/-/forwarded-0.2.0.tgz",
@@ -1274,6 +1384,11 @@
         "node": ">= 0.10"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/proxy-from-env": {
+      "version": "1.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/proxy-from-env/-/proxy-from-env-1.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-D+zkORCbA9f1tdWRK0RaCR3GPv50cMxcrz4X8k5LTSUD1Dkw47mKJEZQNunItRTkWwgtaUSo1RVFRIG9ZXiFYg=="
+    },
     "node_modules/punycode": {
       "version": "2.3.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/punycode/-/punycode-2.3.1.tgz",
@@ -1806,6 +1921,32 @@
         "sparse-bitfield": "^3.0.3"
       }
     },
+    "@sendgrid/client": {
+      "version": "8.1.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@sendgrid/client/-/client-8.1.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VxZoQ82MpxmjSXLR3ZAE2OWxvQIW2k2G24UeRPr/SYX8HqWLV/8UBN15T2WmjjnEb5XSmFImTJOKDzzSeKr9YQ==",
+      "requires": {
+        "@sendgrid/helpers": "^8.0.0",
+        "axios": "^1.7.4"
+      }
+    },
+    "@sendgrid/helpers": {
+      "version": "8.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@sendgrid/helpers/-/helpers-8.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Ze7WuW2Xzy5GT5WRx+yEv89fsg/pgy3T1E3FS0QEx0/VvRmigMZ5qyVGhJz4SxomegDkzXv/i0aFPpHKN8qdAA==",
+      "requires": {
+        "deepmerge": "^4.2.2"
+      }
+    },
+    "@sendgrid/mail": {
+      "version": "8.1.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@sendgrid/mail/-/mail-8.1.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-MUpIZykD9ARie8LElYCqbcBhGGMaA/E6I7fEcG7Hc2An26QJyLtwOaKQ3taGp8xO8BICPJrSKuYV4bDeAJKFGQ==",
+      "requires": {
+        "@sendgrid/client": "^8.1.4",
+        "@sendgrid/helpers": "^8.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     "@tsconfig/node10": {
       "version": "1.0.11",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@tsconfig/node10/-/node10-1.0.11.tgz",
@@ -1891,11 +2032,11 @@
       "dev": true
     },
     "@types/node": {
-      "version": "22.5.4",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-22.5.4.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-FDuKUJQm/ju9fT/SeX/6+gBzoPzlVCzfzmGkwKvRHQVxi4BntVbyIwf6a4Xn62mrvndLiml6z/UBXIdEVjQLXg==",
+      "version": "22.8.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-22.8.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-k6Gi8Yyo8EtrNtkHXutUu2corfDf9su95VYVP10aGYMMROM6SAItZi0w1XszA6RtWTHSVp5OeFof37w0IEqCQg==",
       "requires": {
-        "undici-types": "~6.19.2"
+        "undici-types": "~6.19.8"
       }
     },
     "@types/qs": {
@@ -2001,6 +2142,21 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/array-flatten/-/array-flatten-1.1.1.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-PCVAQswWemu6UdxsDFFX/+gVeYqKAod3D3UVm91jHwynguOwAvYPhx8nNlM++NqRcK6CxxpUafjmhIdKiHibqg=="
     },
+    "asynckit": {
+      "version": "0.4.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/asynckit/-/asynckit-0.4.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Oei9OH4tRh0YqU3GxhX79dM/mwVgvbZJaSNaRk+bshkj0S5cfHcgYakreBjrHwatXKbz+IoIdYLxrKim2MjW0Q=="
+    },
+    "axios": {
+      "version": "1.7.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/axios/-/axios-1.7.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-S4kL7XrjgBmvdGut0sN3yJxqYzrDOnivkBiN0OFs6hLiUam3UPvswUo0kqGyhqUZGEOytHyumEdXsAkgCOUf3Q==",
+      "requires": {
+        "follow-redirects": "^1.15.6",
+        "form-data": "^4.0.0",
+        "proxy-from-env": "^1.1.0"
+      }
+    },
     "balanced-match": {
       "version": "1.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/balanced-match/-/balanced-match-1.0.2.tgz",
@@ -2089,6 +2245,14 @@
         "readdirp": "~3.6.0"
       }
     },
+    "combined-stream": {
+      "version": "1.0.8",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/combined-stream/-/combined-stream-1.0.8.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-FQN4MRfuJeHf7cBbBMJFXhKSDq+2kAArBlmRBvcvFE5BB1HZKXtSFASDhdlz9zOYwxh8lDdnvmMOe/+5cdoEdg==",
+      "requires": {
+        "delayed-stream": "~1.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     "concat-map": {
       "version": "0.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/concat-map/-/concat-map-0.0.1.tgz",
@@ -2139,6 +2303,11 @@
         "ms": "2.0.0"
       }
     },
+    "deepmerge": {
+      "version": "4.3.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/deepmerge/-/deepmerge-4.3.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-3sUqbMEc77XqpdNO7FRyRog+eW3ph+GYCbj+rK+uYyRMuwsVy0rMiVtPn+QJlKFvWP/1PYpapqYn0Me2knFn+A=="
+    },
     "define-data-property": {
       "version": "1.1.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/define-data-property/-/define-data-property-1.1.4.tgz",
@@ -2149,6 +2318,11 @@
         "gopd": "^1.0.1"
       }
     },
+    "delayed-stream": {
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/delayed-stream/-/delayed-stream-1.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ZySD7Nf91aLB0RxL4KGrKHBXl7Eds1DAmEdcoVawXnLD7SDhpNgtuII2aAkg7a7QS41jxPSZ17p4VdGnMHk3MQ=="
+    },
     "depd": {
       "version": "2.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/depd/-/depd-2.0.0.tgz",
@@ -2270,6 +2444,21 @@
         "unpipe": "~1.0.0"
       }
     },
+    "follow-redirects": {
+      "version": "1.15.9",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/follow-redirects/-/follow-redirects-1.15.9.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-gew4GsXizNgdoRyqmyfMHyAmXsZDk6mHkSxZFCzW9gwlbtOW44CDtYavM+y+72qD/Vq2l550kMF52DT8fOLJqQ=="
+    },
+    "form-data": {
+      "version": "4.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/form-data/-/form-data-4.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-tzN8e4TX8+kkxGPK8D5u0FNmjPUjw3lwC9lSLxxoB/+GtsJG91CO8bSWy73APlgAZzZbXEYZJuxjkHH2w+Ezhw==",
+      "requires": {
+        "asynckit": "^0.4.0",
+        "combined-stream": "^1.0.8",
+        "mime-types": "^2.1.12"
+      }
+    },
     "forwarded": {
       "version": "0.2.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/forwarded/-/forwarded-0.2.0.tgz",
@@ -2661,6 +2850,11 @@
         "ipaddr.js": "1.9.1"
       }
     },
+    "proxy-from-env": {
+      "version": "1.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/proxy-from-env/-/proxy-from-env-1.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-D+zkORCbA9f1tdWRK0RaCR3GPv50cMxcrz4X8k5LTSUD1Dkw47mKJEZQNunItRTkWwgtaUSo1RVFRIG9ZXiFYg=="
+    },
     "punycode": {
       "version": "2.3.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/punycode/-/punycode-2.3.1.tgz",
diff --git a/api/package.json b/api/package.json
index a4c2d8f..de25796 100644
--- a/api/package.json
+++ b/api/package.json
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
   "name": "api",
   "version": "1.0.0",
   "description": "",
-  "main": "src/index.ts",
+  "main": "src/server.ts",
   "scripts": {
     "build": "tsc",
-    "start": "node src/index.ts",
+    "start": "nodemon ./dist/server.js",
     "dev": "nodemon ./src/server.ts",
     "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
     "prettier": "prettier --single-quote --write 'src/**/*.{js,ts}'",
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
   "author": "",
   "license": "ISC",
   "dependencies": {
+    "@sendgrid/mail": "^8.1.4",
     "cors": "^2.8.5",
     "dotenv": "^16.4.5",
     "express": "^4.21.0",
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/cors": "^2.8.17",
     "@types/express": "^4.17.21",
-    "@types/node": "^22.5.4",
+    "@types/node": "^22.8.1",
     "@types/uuid": "^10.0.0",
     "body-parser": "^1.20.3",
     "prettier": "^3.3.3",
diff --git a/api/src/routes/user.ts b/api/src/routes/user.ts
index a734b81..ecfa60e 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/user.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/user.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import express from "express";
 import mongoose from "mongoose";
 import dbConnect from "../config/db";
+import sgMail from "@sendgrid/mail";
 
 const router = express.Router();
 
@@ -71,4 +72,32 @@ router.post("/test", async (req: any, res: any) => {
   return res.status(200).json({ name });
 });
 
+router.post("/send-email", async (req: any, res: any) => {
+  try {
+    const SENDGRID_API_KEY = process.env.SEND_GRID_API_KEY || "";
+    const SEND_GRID_TEST_EMAIL = process.env.SEND_GRID_TEST_EMAIL || "";
+
+    if (SENDGRID_API_KEY === "" || SEND_GRID_TEST_EMAIL === "") {
+      throw new Error("SendGrid API key or test email is missing");
+    }
+
+    const { email, name } = req.body;
+
+    sgMail.setApiKey(SENDGRID_API_KEY);
+
+    await sgMail.send({
+      to: email,
+      from: SEND_GRID_TEST_EMAIL,
+      templateId: "d-7e26b82cf8624bafa4077b6ed73b52bf",
+      dynamicTemplateData: {
+        name: name,
+      },
+    });
+
+    return res.status(200).json({ message: "Email successfully sent" });
+  } catch (err) {
+    return res.status(400).json({ message: "Email sending failed" });
+  }
+});
+
 export default router;
diff --git a/api/src/server.ts b/api/src/server.ts
index cd7a639..c3f6ace 100644
--- a/api/src/server.ts
+++ b/api/src/server.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
+import dotenv from "dotenv";
+dotenv.config({ path: path.resolve(__dirname, "../.env") });
+
 import express from "express";
 import bodyParser from "body-parser";
 import connectDB from "./config/db";
-
 import * as routes from "./routes/index";
+import path from "path";
 
 var cors = require("cors");
 
@@ -16,4 +19,6 @@ app.use("/workshop", routes.workshop);
 
 connectDB();
 
-app.listen(process.env.PORT || 8000, () => console.log("Server running..."));
+app.listen(process.env.PORT || 8000, () =>
+  console.log(`Server running on port ${process.env.PORT || 8000}`),
+);