diff --git a/backend/src/db/schema.js b/backend/src/db/schema.js
index 5f02f09..b8c5fad 100644
--- a/backend/src/db/schema.js
+++ b/backend/src/db/schema.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ db.exec(`
     id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
     initial_prompt TEXT NOT NULL,
     document_format TEXT DEFAULT 'md' CHECK(document_format IN ('md', 'txt')),
-    status TEXT CHECK(status IN ('ongoing', 'completed', 'failed')) DEFAULT 'ongoing',
+    status TEXT CHECK(status IN ('created', 'ongoing', 'completed', 'failed')) DEFAULT 'created',
     created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
     completed_at TIMESTAMP,
     final_document TEXT
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/collaborate.js b/backend/src/routes/collaborate.js
index 1d8c325..3f20cdd 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/collaborate.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/collaborate.js
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ router.post('/:id/start', async (req, res) => {
       return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Session not found' });
     }
 
-    if (session.status !== 'ongoing') {
-      return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Session is not in ongoing status' });
+    if (session.status !== 'created') {
+      return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Session has already been started or is no longer available' });
     }
 
     // Start the session asynchronously
diff --git a/backend/src/services/collaborativeOrchestrator.js b/backend/src/services/collaborativeOrchestrator.js
index 218e178..e90c5eb 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/collaborativeOrchestrator.js
+++ b/backend/src/services/collaborativeOrchestrator.js
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class CollaborativeOrchestrator {
     const stmt = db.prepare(
       'INSERT INTO collaborative_sessions (initial_prompt, document_format, status) VALUES (?, ?, ?)'
     );
-    const result = stmt.run(initialPrompt, documentFormat, 'ongoing');
+    const result = stmt.run(initialPrompt, documentFormat, 'created');
     const sessionId = result.lastInsertRowid;
 
     // Select the agents to use
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ class CollaborativeOrchestrator {
         throw new Error('Active session not found');
       }
 
+      // Update session status from 'created' to 'ongoing'
+      const updateStmt = db.prepare('UPDATE collaborative_sessions SET status = ? WHERE id = ?');
+      updateStmt.run('ongoing', sessionId);
+
       activeSession.started = true;
 
       // Broadcast session start