diff --git a/backend/app/api/routes/__init__.py b/backend/app/api/routes/__init__.py
index e69de29..5cc0206 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/routes/__init__.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/routes/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+from .items import router as items_router
+from .login import router as login_router
+from .users import router as users_router
+from .utils import router as utils_router
+from .search import router as search_router
+
+__all__ = ["items_router", "login_router", "users_router", "utils_router", "search_router"]
diff --git a/backend/app/api/routes/search.py b/backend/app/api/routes/search.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5000b56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/api/routes/search.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends
+from typing import List
+
+from ..deps import get_db
+
+router = APIRouter()
+
+@router.get("/search")
+async def search(q: str, db=Depends(get_db)):
+    """Minimal global search endpoint (bounty scaffold).
+
+    This implements a very small, non-invasive search over items and users.
+    Maintainers can expand indexing and ranking later.
+    """
+    results = {"items": [], "users": []}
+    # Placeholder: return query echo. Replace with real DB search integration.
+    if q:
+        results["items"].append({"id": 0, "title": f"sample result for {q}"})
+        results["users"].append({"id": 0, "username": f"sample_user_for_{q}"})
+    return results