diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
index d6495f35..d46b61f2 100644
--- a/.envrc
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -1,20 +1,24 @@
 # Python Virtual Environment Auto-Activation Template
 # Copy this file as .envrc to any Python project directory
+# Default usage:
 # Then run: direnv allow
+VENV_PATH=$(python -c "import json; print(json.load(open('.tinyrc')).get('venv_path', '.venv'))")
+echo "Using virtual env in ${VENV_PATH}"
+export VENV_PATH
 
 # Check if .venv exists, create if it doesn't
-if [[ ! -d ".venv" ]]; then
+if [[ ! -d "$VENV_PATH" ]]; then
     echo "🔧 Creating Python virtual environment..."
-    python3 -m venv .venv
+    python3 -m venv "$VENV_PATH"
     echo "📦 Installing basic dependencies..."
-    source .venv/bin/activate
+    source "$VENV_PATH/bin/activate"
     pip install --upgrade pip
     # Uncomment the next line if you have a requirements.txt
     # pip install -r requirements.txt
 fi
 
 # Activate the virtual environment
-source .venv/bin/activate
+source "$VENV_PATH/bin/activate"
 
 # Set common Python environment variables
 export PYTHONPATH="${PWD}:${PYTHONPATH}"
diff --git a/.tinyrc b/.tinyrc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04bb46c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.tinyrc
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "venv_path": ".venv"
+}
diff --git a/bin/activate-tinytorch.sh b/bin/activate-tinytorch.sh
index 34a783b7..24cbc0be 100755
--- a/bin/activate-tinytorch.sh
+++ b/bin/activate-tinytorch.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 # Tiny🔥Torch Environment Activation & Setup
 
+# Allow users to pass a path to existing virtual env
+VENV_PATH=${1:-".venv"}
+export VENV_PATH
+
 # Check if virtual environment exists, create if not
-if [ ! -d ".venv" ]; then
+if [ ! -d "$VENV_PATH" ]; then
     echo "🆕 First time setup - creating environment..."
-    python3 -m venv .venv || {
+    python3 -m venv "$VENV_PATH" || {
         echo "❌ Failed to create virtual environment"
         exit 1
     }
@@ -17,7 +21,7 @@ if [ ! -d ".venv" ]; then
 fi
 
 echo "🔥 Activating Tiny🔥Torch environment..."
-source .venv/bin/activate
+source "$VENV_PATH/bin/activate"
 
 # Create tito alias for convenience
 alias tito="python3 bin/tito"
diff --git a/tito/commands/base.py b/tito/commands/base.py
index 1c4aeef7..e4bcbb1f 100644
--- a/tito/commands/base.py
+++ b/tito/commands/base.py
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ Base command class for TinyTorch CLI.
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from argparse import ArgumentParser, Namespace
 from typing import Optional
+from pathlib import Path
 import logging
 
 from ..core.config import CLIConfig
+from ..core.virtual_env_manager import get_venv_path
 from ..core.console import get_console
 from ..core.exceptions import TinyTorchCLIError
 
@@ -26,6 +28,11 @@ class BaseCommand(ABC):
     def name(self) -> str:
         """Return the command name."""
         pass
+
+    @property
+    def venv_path(self) -> Path:
+        """Return the command name."""
+        return get_venv_path()
     
     @property
     @abstractmethod
diff --git a/tito/commands/doctor.py b/tito/commands/doctor.py
index 5b18e0ee..fe7e1048 100644
--- a/tito/commands/doctor.py
+++ b/tito/commands/doctor.py
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ class DoctorCommand(BaseCommand):
         env_table.add_row("Python", "[green]✅ OK[/green]", f"{sys.version.split()[0]} ({sys.platform})")
         
         # Virtual environment - check if it exists and if we're using it
-        venv_path = Path(".venv")
-        venv_exists = venv_path.exists()
+        venv_exists = self.venv_path.exists()
         in_venv = (
             # Method 1: Check VIRTUAL_ENV environment variable (most reliable for activation)
             os.environ.get('VIRTUAL_ENV') is not None or
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ class DoctorCommand(BaseCommand):
             venv_status = "[yellow]✅ Ready (Not Active)[/yellow]"
         else:
             venv_status = "[red]❌ Not Found[/red]"
-        env_table.add_row("Virtual Environment", venv_status, ".venv")
+        env_table.add_row("Virtual Environment", venv_status, f"{self.venv_path}")
         
         # Dependencies
         dependencies = [
diff --git a/tito/commands/export.py b/tito/commands/export.py
index 3d2fd459..7d96de13 100644
--- a/tito/commands/export.py
+++ b/tito/commands/export.py
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ class ExportCommand(BaseCommand):
             
             # Get the project root directory (where .venv should be)
             project_root = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent
-            venv_jupytext = project_root / ".venv" / "bin" / "jupytext"
+            venv_jupytext = self.venv_path / "bin" / "jupytext"
             
             if venv_jupytext.exists():
                 # Test venv jupytext first
diff --git a/tito/commands/help.py b/tito/commands/help.py
index cba8d062..33b4e67a 100644
--- a/tito/commands/help.py
+++ b/tito/commands/help.py
@@ -409,8 +409,8 @@ class HelpCommand(BaseCommand):
             "```bash\n"
             "git clone https://github.com/mlsysbook/TinyTorch.git\n"
             "cd TinyTorch\n"
-            "python -m venv .venv\n"
-            "source .venv/bin/activate  # Windows: .venv\\Scripts\\activate\n"
+            f"python -m venv {self.venv_path}\n"
+            f"source {self.venv_path}/bin/activate  # Windows: .venv\\Scripts\\activate\n"
             "pip install -r requirements.txt\n"
             "pip install -e .\n"
             "```",
diff --git a/tito/commands/info.py b/tito/commands/info.py
index 74e53434..23a84ca5 100644
--- a/tito/commands/info.py
+++ b/tito/commands/info.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ Info command for TinyTorch CLI: shows system information and course navigation.
 """
 
 from argparse import ArgumentParser, Namespace
-from pathlib import Path
 import sys
 import os
 from rich.console import Console
@@ -39,8 +38,7 @@ class InfoCommand(BaseCommand):
         info_text.append(f"Working Directory: {os.getcwd()}\n", style="cyan")
         
         # Virtual environment check
-        venv_path = Path(".venv")
-        venv_exists = venv_path.exists()
+        venv_exists = self.venv_path.exists()
         in_venv = (
             os.environ.get('VIRTUAL_ENV') is not None or
             (hasattr(sys, 'base_prefix') and sys.base_prefix != sys.prefix) or
diff --git a/tito/commands/protect.py b/tito/commands/protect.py
index b47f6809..ed3d5898 100644
--- a/tito/commands/protect.py
+++ b/tito/commands/protect.py
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ echo "✅ No auto-generated files being committed"
         vscode_dir = Path(".vscode")
         vscode_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
         
+        python_default_interpreter = str(self.venv_path) + "/bin/python"
         vscode_settings = {
             "_comment_protection": "🛡️ TinyTorch Student Protection",
             "files.readonlyInclude": {
@@ -204,7 +205,7 @@ echo "✅ No auto-generated files being committed"
             "files.decorations.badges": True,
             "explorer.decorations.colors": True,
             "explorer.decorations.badges": True,
-            "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "./.venv/bin/python",
+            "python.defaultInterpreterPath": python_default_interpreter,
             "python.terminal.activateEnvironment": True
         }
         
diff --git a/tito/core/config.py b/tito/core/config.py
index bba78bc6..91783f60 100644
--- a/tito/core/config.py
+++ b/tito/core/config.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, List
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 
+
 @dataclass
 class CLIConfig:
     """Configuration for TinyTorch CLI."""
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ class CLIConfig:
             bin_dir=project_root / 'bin'
         )
     
-    def validate(self) -> List[str]:
+    def validate(self, venv_path=Optional[Path]) -> List[str]:
         """Validate the configuration and return any issues."""
         issues = []
         
@@ -73,10 +74,10 @@ class CLIConfig:
             # Method 3: Check for sys.real_prefix (older Python versions)
             hasattr(sys, 'real_prefix') or
             # Method 4: Check if .venv directory exists and packages are available
-            (Path('.venv').exists() and self._packages_available())
+            (venv_path.exists() and self._packages_available())
         )
         if not in_venv:
-            issues.append("Virtual environment not activated. Run: source .venv/bin/activate")
+            issues.append(f"Virtual environment not activated. Run: source {venv_path}/bin/activate")
         
         # Check required directories
         if not self.assignments_dir.exists():
diff --git a/tito/core/virtual_env_manager.py b/tito/core/virtual_env_manager.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c706a591
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tito/core/virtual_env_manager.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import os, json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+DEFAULT_VENV = ".venv"
+CONFIG_FILE = ".tinyrc"
+
+
+def get_venv_path() -> Path:
+    """
+    Fetch venv in case users have a custom path
+    """
+    print(f"running this from {os.getcwd()}")
+    if "VENV_PATH" in os.environ:
+        return Path(os.environ["VENV_PATH"]).expanduser().resolve()
+
+    if Path(CONFIG_FILE).exists():
+        try:
+            cfg = json.load(open(CONFIG_FILE))
+            return Path(cfg.get("venv_path", DEFAULT_VENV)).expanduser().resolve()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+    return Path(DEFAULT_VENV).resolve()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tito/main.py b/tito/main.py
index 081ea38f..63a1e631 100644
--- a/tito/main.py
+++ b/tito/main.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, Type, Optional, List
 
 from .core.config import CLIConfig
+from .core.virtual_env_manager import get_venv_path
 from .core.console import get_console, print_banner, print_error, print_ascii_logo
 from .core.exceptions import TinyTorchCLIError
 from rich.panel import Panel
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ Examples:
     
     def validate_environment(self) -> bool:
         """Validate the environment and show issues if any."""
-        issues = self.config.validate()
+        issues = self.config.validate(get_venv_path())
         
         if issues:
             print_error(