diff --git a/backend/internal/database/database.go b/backend/internal/database/database.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2c343922
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/internal/database/database.go
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package database
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"gorm.io/driver/sqlite"
+	"gorm.io/gorm"
+)
+
+// Connect opens a SQLite database connection.
+func Connect(dbPath string) (*gorm.DB, error) {
+	db, err := gorm.Open(sqlite.Open(dbPath), &gorm.Config{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open database: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return db, nil
+}