diff --git a/jenkins/riftware/start_build b/jenkins/riftware/start_build
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..80a4a1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jenkins/riftware/start_build
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#   Copyright 2016 RIFT.IO Inc
+#
+#   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+#   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+#   You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+#   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+#   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+#   limitations under the License.
+# 
+# script to start a build. This is run inside a container
+#
+# 24 June 2016 -- Jeremy Mordkoff -- Genesis
+
+HERE=$(realpath $(dirname $0))
+OSM_JENKINS=$(dirname $HERE)
+. $OSM_JENKINS/common/all_funcs
+export OSM_MDG=riftware
+OSM_load_config
+
+
+if [ -d riftware ]; then
+	INFO "reusing existing workspace"
+	cd riftware
+	git pull 
+else
+	INFO "cloning MDG riftware from $OSM_GIT_URL/riftware"
+	git clone $OSM_GIT_URL/riftware
+	cd riftware
+	INFO "install pre-requisites"
+	bash ./scripts/vm_image/mkvmimg --container --modes build
+fi
+
+INFO "done"
+
+
+