diff --git a/app/pages/start.vue b/app/pages/start.vue
index a5c87eb..fee42a4 100644
--- a/app/pages/start.vue
+++ b/app/pages/start.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 <template>
-  <div class="learn-theme flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center bg-[#070d1a] px-4 py-16 text-white">
-    <div class="w-full max-w-3xl space-y-8">
+  <div class="learn-theme relative flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center overflow-hidden bg-[#070d1a] px-4 py-16 text-white">
+    <div class="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 start-bg" aria-hidden="true">
+      <div class="start-bg__glow start-bg__glow--cyan" />
+      <div class="start-bg__glow start-bg__glow--amber" />
+      <div class="start-bg__grid" />
+      <svg class="start-bg__radar" viewBox="0 0 400 400" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+        <circle cx="200" cy="200" r="60" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1" />
+        <circle cx="200" cy="200" r="120" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1" />
+        <circle cx="200" cy="200" r="180" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1" />
+        <line x1="200" y1="20" x2="200" y2="380" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1" />
+        <line x1="20" y1="200" x2="380" y2="200" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1" />
+      </svg>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="relative w-full max-w-3xl space-y-8">
       <div class="space-y-3 text-center">
         <span
           class="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-cyan-300/40 bg-cyan-400/10 px-4 py-1 text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.3em] text-cyan-200/80"
@@ -14,16 +27,24 @@
       <div class="grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-2">
         <button
           type="button"
-          class="relative flex flex-col gap-3 rounded-2xl border border-cyan-300/40 bg-cyan-400/10 p-5 text-left transition hover:border-cyan-300/60 hover:bg-cyan-400/15"
+          class="relative flex h-full flex-col gap-3 overflow-hidden rounded-2xl border border-cyan-300/40 bg-cyan-400/10 p-5 text-left transition hover:border-cyan-300/60 hover:bg-cyan-400/15"
           @click="goToClassroom"
         >
+          <svg
+            class="pointer-events-none absolute -right-6 -bottom-8 h-36 w-36 text-cyan-200/[0.12]"
+            viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true"
+          >
+            <path d="M50 8 L86 30 V70 L50 92 L14 70 V30 Z" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5" />
+            <path d="M50 20 L50 92 M14 45 L86 45" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" />
+            <circle cx="50" cy="32" r="9" fill="currentColor" />
+          </svg>
           <span
             class="absolute right-4 top-4 rounded-full border border-cyan-300/40 bg-cyan-400/15 px-2.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.2em] text-cyan-200"
           >Default</span>
           <div class="flex h-10 w-10 items-center justify-center rounded-xl border border-cyan-300/40 bg-cyan-400/15">
             <v-icon icon="mdi-school-outline" size="20" class="text-cyan-200" />
           </div>
-          <div>
+          <div class="flex-1">
             <p class="text-base font-semibold text-white">Classroom</p>
             <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-white/70">
               Structured, self-paced radio practice. No simulator required — this is where most pilots start.
@@ -38,15 +59,25 @@
         <NuxtLink
           v-if="liveAtcUnlocked"
           to="/pm"
-          class="relative flex flex-col gap-3 rounded-2xl border border-amber-400/30 bg-amber-400/[0.06] p-5 transition hover:border-amber-400/50 hover:bg-amber-400/10"
+          class="relative flex h-full flex-col gap-3 overflow-hidden rounded-2xl border border-amber-400/30 bg-amber-400/[0.06] p-5 transition hover:border-amber-400/50 hover:bg-amber-400/10"
         >
+          <svg
+            class="pointer-events-none absolute -right-6 -bottom-8 h-36 w-36 text-amber-200/[0.12]"
+            viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true"
+          >
+            <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="14" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5" />
+            <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="30" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" />
+            <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="46" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" />
+            <path d="M50 50 L82 26" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" />
+            <circle cx="82" cy="26" r="4" fill="currentColor" />
+          </svg>
           <span
             class="absolute right-4 top-4 rounded-full border border-amber-300/40 bg-amber-400/15 px-2.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.2em] text-amber-200"
           >Alpha</span>
           <div class="flex h-10 w-10 items-center justify-center rounded-xl border border-amber-300/40 bg-amber-400/15">
             <v-icon icon="mdi-radar" size="20" class="text-amber-200" />
           </div>
-          <div>
+          <div class="flex-1">
             <p class="text-base font-semibold text-white">Live ATC</p>
             <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-white/70">
               Connect your simulator and fly against our live AI controller. Early alpha — not everything works
@@ -60,16 +91,26 @@
         </NuxtLink>
         <div
           v-else
-          class="relative flex flex-col gap-3 rounded-2xl border border-white/10 bg-white/5 p-5 opacity-60"
+          class="relative flex h-full flex-col gap-3 overflow-hidden rounded-2xl border border-white/10 bg-white/5 p-5 opacity-60"
           aria-disabled="true"
         >
+          <svg
+            class="pointer-events-none absolute -right-6 -bottom-8 h-36 w-36 text-white/[0.08]"
+            viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true"
+          >
+            <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="14" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5" />
+            <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="30" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" />
+            <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="46" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" />
+            <path d="M50 50 L82 26" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" />
+            <circle cx="82" cy="26" r="4" fill="currentColor" />
+          </svg>
           <span
             class="absolute right-4 top-4 rounded-full border border-white/15 bg-white/10 px-2.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.2em] text-white/60"
           >Alpha</span>
           <div class="flex h-10 w-10 items-center justify-center rounded-xl border border-white/15 bg-white/10">
             <v-icon icon="mdi-radar" size="20" class="text-white/50" />
           </div>
-          <div>
+          <div class="flex-1">
             <p class="text-base font-semibold text-white">Live ATC</p>
             <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-white/70">
               Connect your simulator and fly against our live AI controller. Early alpha — not everything works
@@ -124,3 +165,55 @@ function goToClassroom() {
   router.push(introCompleted ? '/classroom' : '/classroom-introduction')
 }
 </script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.start-bg__glow {
+  position: absolute;
+  border-radius: 9999px;
+  filter: blur(90px);
+  opacity: 0.35;
+}
+
+.start-bg__glow--cyan {
+  top: -10%;
+  left: -8%;
+  width: 32rem;
+  height: 32rem;
+  background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(103, 232, 249, 0.35), transparent 70%);
+}
+
+.start-bg__glow--amber {
+  bottom: -15%;
+  right: -10%;
+  width: 30rem;
+  height: 30rem;
+  background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(251, 191, 36, 0.25), transparent 70%);
+}
+
+.start-bg__grid {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  background-image:
+    linear-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.035) 1px, transparent 1px),
+    linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.035) 1px, transparent 1px);
+  background-size: 48px 48px;
+  mask-image: radial-gradient(ellipse 70% 60% at 50% 40%, black 20%, transparent 80%);
+}
+
+.start-bg__radar {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 50%;
+  left: 50%;
+  width: 44rem;
+  height: 44rem;
+  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+  color: rgba(103, 232, 249, 0.08);
+  animation: start-bg-spin 60s linear infinite;
+}
+
+@keyframes start-bg-spin {
+  to {
+    transform: translate(-50%, -50%) rotate(360deg);
+  }
+}
+</style>