diff --git a/start_app.py b/start_app.py
index b853a3c..4c234ae 100755
--- a/start_app.py
+++ b/start_app.py
@@ -60,14 +60,35 @@ def main():
         return False
     print()
 
-    # Verify app.py exists
-    print("[3/4] Verifying application files...")
-    app_path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "app.py")
+    # Find the app directory (handle symlinks and copies)
+    print("[3/4] Locating application directory...")
+
+    # Start with script location
+    script_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+
+    # Resolve symlinks
+    if os.path.islink(__file__):
+        script_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(os.readlink(__file__)))
+
+    app_path = os.path.join(script_dir, "app.py")
+
+    # If app.py not found, search for it
     if not os.path.exists(app_path):
-        print(f"ERROR: app.py not found at {app_path}")
-        input("Press Enter to exit...")
-        return False
-    print("✓ Application found: app.py\n")
+        print(f"  Searching for app.py near {script_dir}...")
+
+        # Check parent directory
+        parent_dir = os.path.dirname(script_dir)
+        app_path = os.path.join(parent_dir, "app.py")
+        if os.path.exists(app_path):
+            script_dir = parent_dir
+        else:
+            print(f"ERROR: app.py not found")
+            print(f"  Checked: {script_dir}")
+            print(f"  Checked: {parent_dir}")
+            input("Press Enter to exit...")
+            return False
+
+    print(f"✓ Application found: {app_path}\n")
 
     # Start the app
     print("[4/4] Starting web application...\n")
@@ -86,7 +107,7 @@ def main():
         pass
 
     # Change to app directory and run
-    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+    os.chdir(script_dir)
 
     try:
         # Import and run the Flask app