diff --git a/code/frameworks/angular/src/builders/start-storybook/index.ts b/code/frameworks/angular/src/builders/start-storybook/index.ts
index 3b44e0dea51f..642953dc4366 100644
--- a/code/frameworks/angular/src/builders/start-storybook/index.ts
+++ b/code/frameworks/angular/src/builders/start-storybook/index.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export type StorybookBuilderOptions = JsonObject & {
     | 'ci'
     | 'quiet'
     | 'disableTelemetry'
+    | 'initialPath'
     | 'open'
     | 'docs'
   >;
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@ const commandBuilder: BuilderHandlerFn<StorybookBuilderOptions> = (options, cont
         sslKey,
         disableTelemetry,
         assets,
+        initialPath,
         open,
       } = options;
 
@@ -123,6 +125,7 @@ const commandBuilder: BuilderHandlerFn<StorybookBuilderOptions> = (options, cont
           ...(assets ? { assets } : {}),
         },
         tsConfig,
+        initialPath,
         open,
       };
 
diff --git a/code/frameworks/angular/src/builders/start-storybook/schema.json b/code/frameworks/angular/src/builders/start-storybook/schema.json
index 764143407b2d..d10d07d95d5d 100644
--- a/code/frameworks/angular/src/builders/start-storybook/schema.json
+++ b/code/frameworks/angular/src/builders/start-storybook/schema.json
@@ -114,6 +114,10 @@
       "items": {
         "$ref": "#/definitions/assetPattern"
       }
+    },
+    "initialPath": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "URL path to be appended when visiting Storybook for the first time"
     }
   },
   "additionalProperties": false,
diff --git a/code/lib/cli/src/dev.ts b/code/lib/cli/src/dev.ts
index be90c298d68d..216a15595a73 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli/src/dev.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli/src/dev.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { sync as readUpSync } from 'read-pkg-up';
 import { logger, instance as npmLog } from '@storybook/node-logger';
 import { buildDevStandalone, withTelemetry } from '@storybook/core-server';
 import { cache } from '@storybook/core-common';
+import type { CLIOptions } from '@storybook/types';
 
 function printError(error: any) {
   // this is a weird bugfix, somehow 'node-pre-gyp' is polluting the npmLog header
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ function printError(error: any) {
   logger.line();
 }
 
-export const dev = async (cliOptions: any) => {
+export const dev = async (cliOptions: CLIOptions) => {
   process.env.NODE_ENV = process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development';
 
   const options = {
@@ -45,8 +46,15 @@ export const dev = async (cliOptions: any) => {
     ignorePreview: !!cliOptions.previewUrl && !cliOptions.forceBuildPreview,
     cache,
     packageJson: readUpSync({ cwd: __dirname }).packageJson,
-  };
-  await withTelemetry('dev', { cliOptions, presetOptions: options, printError }, () =>
-    buildDevStandalone(options)
+  } as Parameters<typeof buildDevStandalone>[0];
+
+  await withTelemetry(
+    'dev',
+    {
+      cliOptions,
+      presetOptions: options as Parameters<typeof withTelemetry>[1]['presetOptions'],
+      printError,
+    },
+    () => buildDevStandalone(options)
   );
 };
diff --git a/code/lib/cli/src/generate.ts b/code/lib/cli/src/generate.ts
index 6b71d0d0464f..0a3ea06f54c5 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli/src/generate.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli/src/generate.ts
@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ command('dev')
   )
   .option('--force-build-preview', 'Build the preview iframe even if you are using --preview-url')
   .option('--docs', 'Build a documentation-only site using addon-docs')
+  .option(
+    '--initial-path [path]',
+    'URL path to be appended when visiting Storybook for the first time'
+  )
   .action(async (options) => {
     logger.setLevel(program.loglevel);
     consoleLogger.log(chalk.bold(`${pkg.name} v${pkg.version}`) + chalk.reset('\n'));
diff --git a/code/lib/cli/src/initiate.ts b/code/lib/cli/src/initiate.ts
index 6d62f6061ca7..0f74d3c21609 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli/src/initiate.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli/src/initiate.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { telemetry } from '@storybook/telemetry';
 import { withTelemetry } from '@storybook/core-server';
 
 import dedent from 'ts-dedent';
+import boxen from 'boxen';
 import { installableProjectTypes, ProjectType } from './project_types';
 import {
   detect,
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ import { JsPackageManagerFactory, useNpmWarning } from './js-package-manager';
 import type { NpmOptions } from './NpmOptions';
 import type { CommandOptions } from './generators/types';
 import { HandledError } from './HandledError';
+import { dev } from './dev';
 
 const logger = console;
 
@@ -256,7 +258,7 @@ async function doInitiate(options: CommandOptions, pkg: PackageJson): Promise<vo
     updateCheckInterval: 1000 * 60 * 60, // every hour (we could increase this later on.)
   });
 
-  let projectType;
+  let projectType: ProjectType;
   const projectTypeProvided = options.type;
   const infoText = projectTypeProvided
     ? `Installing Storybook for user specified project type: ${projectTypeProvided}`
@@ -267,7 +269,7 @@ async function doInitiate(options: CommandOptions, pkg: PackageJson): Promise<vo
 
   if (projectTypeProvided) {
     if (installableProjectTypes.includes(projectTypeProvided)) {
-      projectType = projectTypeProvided.toUpperCase();
+      projectType = projectTypeProvided.toUpperCase() as ProjectType;
     } else {
       done(`The provided project type was not recognized by Storybook: ${projectTypeProvided}`);
       logger.log(`\nThe project types currently supported by Storybook are:\n`);
@@ -317,12 +319,7 @@ async function doInitiate(options: CommandOptions, pkg: PackageJson): Promise<vo
     telemetry('init', { projectType });
   }
 
-  logger.log('\nFor more information visit:', chalk.cyan('https://storybook.js.org'));
-
-  if (projectType === ProjectType.ANGULAR) {
-    logger.log('\nTo run your Storybook, type:\n');
-    codeLog([`ng run ${installResult.projectName}:storybook`]);
-  } else if (projectType === ProjectType.REACT_NATIVE) {
+  if (projectType === ProjectType.REACT_NATIVE) {
     logger.log();
     logger.log(chalk.yellow('NOTE: installation is not 100% automated.\n'));
     logger.log(`To quickly run Storybook, replace contents of your app entry with:\n`);
@@ -333,12 +330,61 @@ async function doInitiate(options: CommandOptions, pkg: PackageJson): Promise<vo
     logger.log(chalk.cyan('https://github.com/storybookjs/react-native'));
     logger.log();
   } else {
-    logger.log('\nTo run your Storybook, type:\n');
-    codeLog([packageManager.getRunStorybookCommand()]);
+    const storybookCommand =
+      projectType === ProjectType.ANGULAR
+        ? `ng run ${installResult.projectName}:storybook`
+        : packageManager.getRunStorybookCommand();
+    logger.log(
+      boxen(
+        dedent`
+          Storybook was successfully installed in your project! 🎉
+          To run Storybook manually, run ${chalk.yellow(
+            chalk.bold(storybookCommand)
+          )}. CTRL+C to stop.
+          
+          Wanna know more about Storybook? Check out ${chalk.cyan('https://storybook.js.org/')}
+          Having trouble or want to chat? Join us at ${chalk.cyan('https://discord.gg/storybook/')}
+        `,
+        { borderStyle: 'round', padding: 1, borderColor: '#F1618C' }
+      )
+    );
+
+    const shouldRunDev = process.env.CI !== 'true' && process.env.IN_STORYBOOK_SANDBOX !== 'true';
+    if (shouldRunDev) {
+      logger.log('\nRunning Storybook');
+
+      switch (projectType) {
+        case ProjectType.ANGULAR: {
+          try {
+            // for angular specifically, we have to run the `ng` command, and to stream the output
+            // it has to be a sync command.
+            packageManager.runPackageCommandSync(
+              `ng run ${installResult.projectName}:storybook`,
+              ['--quiet'],
+              undefined,
+              'inherit'
+            );
+          } catch (e) {
+            if (e.message.includes('Command failed with exit code 129')) {
+              // catch ctrl + c error
+            } else {
+              throw e;
+            }
+          }
+          break;
+        }
+
+        default: {
+          await dev({
+            ...options,
+            port: 6006,
+            open: true,
+            quiet: true,
+          });
+        }
+      }
+    }
   }
-
-  // Add a new line for the clear visibility.
-  logger.log();
 }
 
 export async function initiate(options: CommandOptions, pkg: PackageJson): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/code/lib/core-server/src/dev-server.ts b/code/lib/core-server/src/dev-server.ts
index a66de7bb5a89..c9a1f814417f 100644
--- a/code/lib/core-server/src/dev-server.ts
+++ b/code/lib/core-server/src/dev-server.ts
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ export async function storybookDevServer(options: Options) {
 
   app.use(router);
 
-  const { port, host } = options;
+  const { port, host, initialPath } = options;
   const proto = options.https ? 'https' : 'http';
-  const { address, networkAddress } = getServerAddresses(port, host, proto);
+  const { address, networkAddress } = getServerAddresses(port, host, proto, initialPath);
 
   const listening = new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
     // @ts-expect-error (Following line doesn't match TypeScript signature at all 🤔)
diff --git a/code/lib/core-server/src/utils/server-address.test.ts b/code/lib/core-server/src/utils/server-address.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bf7dbd194fcf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/lib/core-server/src/utils/server-address.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+import detectPort from 'detect-port';
+import { getServerAddresses, getServerPort, getServerChannelUrl } from './server-address';
+
+jest.mock('ip');
+jest.mock('detect-port');
+jest.mock('@storybook/node-logger');
+
+describe('getServerAddresses', () => {
+  const port = 3000;
+  const host = 'localhost';
+  const proto = 'http';
+
+  it('should return server addresses without initial path by default', () => {
+    const expectedAddress = `${proto}://localhost:${port}/`;
+    const expectedNetworkAddress = `${proto}://${host}:${port}/`;
+
+    const result = getServerAddresses(port, host, proto);
+
+    expect(result.address).toBe(expectedAddress);
+    expect(result.networkAddress).toBe(expectedNetworkAddress);
+  });
+
+  it('should return server addresses with initial path', () => {
+    const initialPath = '/foo/bar';
+
+    const expectedAddress = `${proto}://localhost:${port}/?path=/foo/bar`;
+    const expectedNetworkAddress = `${proto}://${host}:${port}/?path=/foo/bar`;
+
+    const result = getServerAddresses(port, host, proto, initialPath);
+
+    expect(result.address).toBe(expectedAddress);
+    expect(result.networkAddress).toBe(expectedNetworkAddress);
+  });
+
+  it('should return server addresses with initial path and add slash if missing', () => {
+    const initialPath = 'foo/bar';
+
+    const expectedAddress = `${proto}://localhost:${port}/?path=/foo/bar`;
+    const expectedNetworkAddress = `${proto}://${host}:${port}/?path=/foo/bar`;
+
+    const result = getServerAddresses(port, host, proto, initialPath);
+
+    expect(result.address).toBe(expectedAddress);
+    expect(result.networkAddress).toBe(expectedNetworkAddress);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('getServerPort', () => {
+  const port = 3000;
+
+  it('should resolve with a free port', async () => {
+    const expectedFreePort = 4000;
+
+    (detectPort as jest.Mock).mockResolvedValue(expectedFreePort);
+
+    const result = await getServerPort(port);
+
+    expect(result).toBe(expectedFreePort);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('getServerChannelUrl', () => {
+  const port = 3000;
+  it('should return WebSocket URL with HTTP', () => {
+    const options = { https: false };
+    const expectedUrl = `ws://localhost:${port}/storybook-server-channel`;
+
+    const result = getServerChannelUrl(port, options);
+
+    expect(result).toBe(expectedUrl);
+  });
+
+  it('should return WebSocket URL with HTTPS', () => {
+    const options = { https: true };
+    const expectedUrl = `wss://localhost:${port}/storybook-server-channel`;
+
+    const result = getServerChannelUrl(port, options);
+
+    expect(result).toBe(expectedUrl);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/code/lib/core-server/src/utils/server-address.ts b/code/lib/core-server/src/utils/server-address.ts
index 54b57b09202d..3332fa53b0d3 100644
--- a/code/lib/core-server/src/utils/server-address.ts
+++ b/code/lib/core-server/src/utils/server-address.ts
@@ -3,10 +3,26 @@ import ip from 'ip';
 import { logger } from '@storybook/node-logger';
 import detectFreePort from 'detect-port';
 
-export function getServerAddresses(port: number, host: string, proto: string) {
+export function getServerAddresses(
+  port: number,
+  host: string,
+  proto: string,
+  initialPath?: string
+) {
+  const address = new URL(`${proto}://localhost:${port}/`);
+  const networkAddress = new URL(`${proto}://${host || ip.address()}:${port}/`);
+
+  if (initialPath) {
+    const searchParams = `?path=${decodeURIComponent(
+      initialPath.startsWith('/') ? initialPath : `/${initialPath}`
+    )}`;
+    address.search = searchParams;
+    networkAddress.search = searchParams;
+  }
+
   return {
-    address: `${proto}://localhost:${port}/`,
-    networkAddress: `${proto}://${host || ip.address()}:${port}/`,
+    address: address.href,
+    networkAddress: networkAddress.href,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/code/lib/types/src/modules/core-common.ts b/code/lib/types/src/modules/core-common.ts
index caaa96db041c..275f1422347d 100644
--- a/code/lib/types/src/modules/core-common.ts
+++ b/code/lib/types/src/modules/core-common.ts
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ export interface CLIOptions {
   disableTelemetry?: boolean;
   enableCrashReports?: boolean;
   host?: string;
+  initialPath?: string;
   /**
    * @deprecated Use 'staticDirs' Storybook Configuration option instead
    */
diff --git a/scripts/task.ts b/scripts/task.ts
index 585c65dd84cf..4cb138f72862 100644
--- a/scripts/task.ts
+++ b/scripts/task.ts
@@ -325,6 +325,9 @@ async function runTask(task: Task, details: TemplateDetails, optionValues: Passe
 const controllers: AbortController[] = [];
 
 async function run() {
+  // useful for other scripts to know whether they're running in the creation of a sandbox in the monorepo
+  process.env.IN_STORYBOOK_SANDBOX = 'true';
+
   const allOptionValues = await getOptionsOrPrompt('yarn task', options);
 
   const { task: taskKey, startFrom, junit, ...optionValues } = allOptionValues;
diff --git a/scripts/tasks/sandbox-parts.ts b/scripts/tasks/sandbox-parts.ts
index cd15ac2c81ec..4f75a49037f2 100644
--- a/scripts/tasks/sandbox-parts.ts
+++ b/scripts/tasks/sandbox-parts.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
 } from '../utils/yarn';
 import { exec } from '../utils/exec';
 import type { ConfigFile } from '../../code/lib/csf-tools';
+import storybookPackages from '../../code/lib/cli/src/versions';
 import { writeConfig } from '../../code/lib/csf-tools';
 import { filterExistsInCodeDir } from '../utils/filterExistsInCodeDir';
 import { findFirstPath } from '../utils/paths';
@@ -430,8 +431,6 @@ export const addStories: Task['run'] = async (
       });
     }
 
-    console.log({ sandboxSpecificStoriesFolder, storiesVariantFolder });
-
     if (
       await pathExists(
         resolve(CODE_DIRECTORY, frameworkPath, join('template', storiesVariantFolder))
@@ -473,9 +472,12 @@ export const addStories: Task['run'] = async (
   );
 
   const addonDirs = await Promise.all(
-    [...mainAddons, ...extraAddons].map(async (addon) =>
-      workspacePath('addon', `@storybook/addon-${addon}`)
-    )
+    [...mainAddons, ...extraAddons]
+      // only include addons that are in the monorepo
+      .filter((addon: string) =>
+        Object.keys(storybookPackages).find((pkg: string) => pkg === `@storybook/addon-${addon}`)
+      )
+      .map(async (addon) => workspacePath('addon', `@storybook/addon-${addon}`))
   );
 
   if (isCoreRenderer) {