diff --git a/scripts/setup_venv b/scripts/setup_venv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c5f50d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/setup_venv
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+BASEDIR=$(pwd)
+REQUIREMENTS=$BASEDIR/containers/xos/pip_requirements.txt
+VENVDIR=venv-xos
+
+echo $BASEDIR
+echo $REQUIREMENTS
+echo $VENVDIR
+
+# create venv if it's not yet there
+if [ ! -d "$BASEDIR/$VENVDIR" ]; then
+    echo "Setting up virtualenv for XOS"
+    virtualenv -q $BASEDIR/$VENVDIR --no-site-packages
+    pip install --upgrade pip
+    echo "Virtualenv created."
+fi
+
+# activate the virtual env
+if [ ! $VIRTUAL_ENV ]; then
+    source $BASEDIR/$VENVDIR/bin/activate
+    echo "Virtualenv activated."
+fi
+
+# install pip requirements
+if pip install -r $REQUIREMENTS
+  then
+    echo "Requirements installed."
+    echo "Virtualenv ready"
+  else
+    echo "An error occurred"
+fi