diff --git a/cheshire/sw/Makefile b/cheshire/sw/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4daa16dd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cheshire/sw/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Copyright 2024 ETH Zurich and University of Bologna.
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0, see LICENSE for details.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+#
+# Matteo Perotti <mperotti@ethz.ch>
+#
+# Copy and compile vector software on Cheshire
+
+CHS_ROOT ?= $(realpath ../../../../../..)
+ARA_SW   := $(dir $(realpath $(firstword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
+CHS_SW   := $(CHS_ROOT)/sw
+SRC      := $(wildcard $(ARA_SW)/*.c) $(wildcard $(ARA_SW)/*.h)
+
+# Get the original compiler options and add the support for vector extension
+CHS_SW_FLAGS ?= $(shell grep "^CHS_SW_FLAGS\s\+?=\s\+" -- $(CHS_SW)/sw.mk | sed 's/^.*?= //' | sed s/rv64gc/rv64gcv/)
+
+.PHONY: chs-sw-all copy_vector_sw
+
+# Forward build command to the main Cheshire makefile and attach the correct -march
+chs-sw-all: copy-vector-sw
+	make -C $(CHS_ROOT) $@ CHS_SW_FLAGS="$(CHS_SW_FLAGS)"
+
+# Copy the vector programs to cheshire
+copy-vector-sw:
+	cp $(SRC) $(CHS_SW)/tests
diff --git a/cheshire/sw/README.md b/cheshire/sw/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e4be744d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cheshire/sw/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Build software for Cheshire Ara
+
+Compile the `.c` programs in this folder with:
+
+```bash
+make chs-sw-all
+```
+
+This command will copy the necessary source files into Cheshire's `sw/tests` directory and compile them with the support for vector extension.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cheshire/sw/encoding.h b/cheshire/sw/encoding.h
new file mode 120000
index 000000000..d2d456631
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cheshire/sw/encoding.h
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../apps/common/encoding.h
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cheshire/sw/vector_helloworld.c b/cheshire/sw/vector_helloworld.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7bcd4d27a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cheshire/sw/vector_helloworld.c
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+// Copyright 2024 ETH Zurich and University of Bologna.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0, see LICENSE for details.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+// Matteo Perotti <mperotti@ethz.ch>
+//
+// Simple vector memcpy for Hello World!
+
+#include "regs/cheshire.h"
+#include "dif/clint.h"
+#include "dif/uart.h"
+#include "params.h"
+#include "util.h"
+
+#include "vector_util.h"
+#include <riscv_vector.h>
+
+unsigned char buf[64];
+
+int main(void) {
+    enable_rvv();
+
+    const unsigned char str[] = "Hello World!\r\n";
+    vuint8m1_t str_v;
+
+    // Copy the hello world string to buf
+    str_v = __riscv_vle8_v_u8m1(str, sizeof(str));
+    __riscv_vse8_v_u8m1(buf, str_v, sizeof(str));
+
+    // Print buf
+    uint32_t rtc_freq = *reg32(&__base_regs, CHESHIRE_RTC_FREQ_REG_OFFSET);
+    uint64_t reset_freq = clint_get_core_freq(rtc_freq, 2500);
+    uart_init(&__base_uart, reset_freq, __BOOT_BAUDRATE);
+    uart_write_str(&__base_uart, buf, sizeof(buf));
+    uart_write_flush(&__base_uart);
+
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/cheshire/sw/vector_util.h b/cheshire/sw/vector_util.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..29e8cb166
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cheshire/sw/vector_util.h
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// Copyright 2024 ETH Zurich and University of Bologna.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0, see LICENSE for details.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+// Matteo Perotti <mperotti@ethz.ch>
+//
+// Custom vector util
+
+#ifndef __VECTOR_UTIL_H__
+#define __VECTOR_UTIL_H__
+
+#include "encoding.h"
+
+inline void enable_rvv() {
+  asm volatile ("li t0, %0" :: "i"(MSTATUS_VS));
+  asm volatile ("csrs mstatus, t0" );
+}
+
+#endif