diff --git a/factory/cli.py b/factory/cli.py
index 59d1509..3face0d 100644
--- a/factory/cli.py
+++ b/factory/cli.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
   status [run_id]           — show run(s) status
   eval   <run_id>           — re-run eval commands for an existing run
   attach <run_id>           — SSH into the remote tmux session for a run
+  hello  [--port PORT]      — start a hello HTTP endpoint server
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 
@@ -1035,6 +1036,23 @@ def poll(
     console.print()
 
 
+# ── hello ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@app.command()
+def hello(
+    port: int = typer.Option(8000, "--port", "-p", help="Port to listen on"),
+    host: str = typer.Option("0.0.0.0", "--host", "-h", help="Host to bind to"),
+) -> None:
+    """Start a simple HTTP server with a /hello endpoint that returns JSON."""
+    from factory.hello_server import run_server
+
+    console.print(f"[green]✓[/green] Starting hello server on http://{host}:{port}/hello")
+    try:
+        run_server(host=host, port=port)
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        console.print("\n[yellow]Shutting down...[/yellow]")
+
+
 # ── slack-listen ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 @app.command(name="slack-listen")
diff --git a/factory/hello_server.py b/factory/hello_server.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9541c1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/factory/hello_server.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+"""
+Simple HTTP server with a hello endpoint.
+
+Usage:
+  from factory.hello_server import run_server
+  run_server(port=8000)
+"""
+from http.server import HTTPServer, BaseHTTPRequestHandler
+import json
+
+
+class HelloHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
+    """HTTP request handler for the hello endpoint."""
+
+    def do_GET(self):
+        """Handle GET requests."""
+        if self.path == "/hello":
+            self.send_response(200)
+            self.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            self.end_headers()
+            response = json.dumps({"message": "hello"})
+            self.wfile.write(response.encode())
+        else:
+            self.send_response(404)
+            self.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            self.end_headers()
+            response = json.dumps({"error": "not found"})
+            self.wfile.write(response.encode())
+
+    def log_message(self, format, *args):
+        """Suppress default logging."""
+        pass
+
+
+def run_server(host: str = "0.0.0.0", port: int = 8000) -> None:
+    """Start the HTTP server on the specified host and port."""
+    server = HTTPServer((host, port), HelloHandler)
+    print(f"Hello server listening on http://{host}:{port}/hello")
+    server.serve_forever()