diff --git a/catfish/project/__init__.py b/catfish/project/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..132642a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/catfish/project/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Project:
+    root: Path
+
+    def __post_init__(self):
+        self.root = Path(self.root)
+        assert self.exists()
+
+    def exists(self):
+        return self.root.exists()
diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index 0f39144..ee7b914 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from catfish.utils.sockets import create_base_socket_dir, delete_base_socket_dir
 
 class BaseTestCase(TestCase):
     DUMMY_EXE = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "dummy_program.py")
+    EXAMPLE_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "../example")
 
     def setUp(self):
         create_base_socket_dir()
diff --git a/tests/test_project/test_project.py b/tests/test_project/test_project.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..001a574
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_project/test_project.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+from catfish.project import Project
+from tests import BaseTestCase
+
+
+class ProjectTestCase(BaseTestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self.project = Project(self.EXAMPLE_DIR)
+
+    def test_exists(self):
+        self.assertTrue(self.project.exists())
+
+    def test_cant_create_nonexistent_directory(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):
+            Project("/nonexistent")