diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8714163
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+deps:
+	# for the contracts
+	git submodule update --init --recursive
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a95b319..d06b5df 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,7 @@
 # de-mls
 Decentralized MLS PoC using a smart contract for group coordination
+
+## Install deps
+
+1. `Foundry`
+2. `make deps`