diff --git a/plugins/graphql/.eslintrc.js b/plugins/graphql/.eslintrc.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13573efa9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/.eslintrc.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module.exports = {
+  extends: [require.resolve('@backstage/cli/config/eslint')],
+};
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/README.md b/plugins/graphql/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4a251363ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# graphql
+
+Welcome to the graphql backend plugin!
+
+_This plugin was created through the Backstage CLI_
+
+## Getting started
+
+Your plugin has been added to the example app in this repository, meaning you'll be able to access it by running `yarn
+start` in the root directory, and then navigating to [/graphql](http://localhost:3000/graphql).
+
+You can also serve the plugin in isolation by running `yarn start` in the plugin directory.
+This method of serving the plugin provides quicker iteration speed and a faster startup and hot reloads.
+It is only meant for local development, and the setup for it can be found inside the [/dev](/dev) directory.
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/package.json b/plugins/graphql/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c80007276d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+{
+  "name": "@backstage/plugin-graphql-backend",
+  "version": "0.1.1-alpha.15",
+  "main": "src/index.ts",
+  "types": "src/index.ts",
+  "license": "Apache-2.0",
+  "private": true,
+  "publishConfig": {
+    "access": "public",
+    "main": "dist/index.esm.js",
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+  },
+  "scripts": {
+    "start": "backstage-cli backend:dev",
+    "build": "backstage-cli backend:build",
+    "lint": "backstage-cli lint",
+    "test": "backstage-cli test",
+    "prepack": "backstage-cli prepack",
+    "postpack": "backstage-cli postpack",
+    "clean": "backstage-cli clean",
+    "mock-data": "./scripts/mock-data.sh"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@backstage/backend-common": "^0.1.1-alpha.15",
+    "@types/express": "^4.17.6",
+    "express": "^4.17.1",
+    "express-promise-router": "^3.0.3",
+    "yn": "^4.0.0",
+    "whatwg-fetch": "^3.2.0"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@backstage/cli": "^0.1.1-alpha.15",
+    "@types/supertest": "^2.0.8",
+    "supertest": "^4.0.2",
+    "msw": "^0.19.5"
+  },
+  "files": [
+    "dist"
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/scripts/mock-data.sh b/plugins/graphql/scripts/mock-data.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..ff30921715
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/scripts/mock-data.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+echo "use this script to load your service with some mock data if needed!"
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/src/index.ts b/plugins/graphql/src/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7332f92d68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/src/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+require('whatwg-fetch');
+export * from './service/router';
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/src/run.ts b/plugins/graphql/src/run.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b96989e4b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/src/run.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { getRootLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import yn from 'yn';
+import { startStandaloneServer } from './service/standaloneServer';
+
+const port = process.env.PLUGIN_PORT ? Number(process.env.PLUGIN_PORT) : 7000;
+const enableCors = yn(process.env.PLUGIN_CORS, { default: false });
+const logger = getRootLogger();
+
+startStandaloneServer({ port, enableCors, logger }).catch(err => {
+  logger.error(err);
+  process.exit(1);
+});
+
+process.on('SIGINT', () => {
+  logger.info('CTRL+C pressed; exiting.');
+  process.exit(0);
+});
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/src/service/router.test.ts b/plugins/graphql/src/service/router.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fba6b0ccdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/src/service/router.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { getVoidLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import express from 'express';
+import request from 'supertest';
+
+import { createRouter } from './router';
+
+describe('createRouter', () => {
+  let app: express.Express;
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const router = await createRouter({
+      logger: getVoidLogger(),
+    });
+    app = express().use(router);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.resetAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  describe('GET /ping', () => {
+    it('returns ok', async () => {
+      const response = await request(app).get('/ping');
+
+      expect(response.status).toEqual(200);
+      expect(response.body).toEqual({ status: 'ok' });
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/src/service/router.ts b/plugins/graphql/src/service/router.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3ea8219365
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/src/service/router.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { errorHandler } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import express from 'express';
+import Router from 'express-promise-router';
+import { Logger } from 'winston';
+
+export interface RouterOptions {
+  logger: Logger;
+}
+
+export async function createRouter(
+  options: RouterOptions,
+): Promise<express.Router> {
+  const { logger } = options;
+
+  const router = Router();
+  router.use(express.json());
+
+  router.get('/health', (_, response) => {
+    logger.info('PONG!');
+    response.send({ status: 'ok' });
+  });
+  router.use(errorHandler());
+  return router;
+}
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/src/service/standaloneServer.ts b/plugins/graphql/src/service/standaloneServer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0f772a583f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/src/service/standaloneServer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { createServiceBuilder } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import { Server } from 'http';
+import { Logger } from 'winston';
+import { createRouter } from './router';
+
+export interface ServerOptions {
+  port: number;
+  enableCors: boolean;
+  logger: Logger;
+}
+
+export async function startStandaloneServer(
+  options: ServerOptions,
+): Promise<Server> {
+  const logger = options.logger.child({ service: 'graphql-backend' });
+  logger.debug('Starting application server...');
+  const router = await createRouter({
+    logger,
+  });
+
+  const service = createServiceBuilder(module)
+    .enableCors({ origin: 'http://localhost:3000' })
+    .addRouter('/graphql', router);
+
+  return await service.start().catch(err => {
+    logger.error(err);
+    process.exit(1);
+  });
+}
+
+module.hot?.accept();
diff --git a/plugins/graphql/src/setupTests.ts b/plugins/graphql/src/setupTests.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aa5bc44d68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/graphql/src/setupTests.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+require('whatwg-fetch');
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 6c0ff99388..cd0e39f7e1 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -13127,7 +13127,7 @@ ms@^2.0.0, ms@^2.1.1:
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/ms/-/ms-2.1.2.tgz#d09d1f357b443f493382a8eb3ccd183872ae6009"
   integrity sha512-sGkPx+VjMtmA6MX27oA4FBFELFCZZ4S4XqeGOXCv68tT+jb3vk/RyaKWP0PTKyWtmLSM0b+adUTEvbs1PEaH2w==
 
-msw@^0.19.0:
+msw@^0.19.0, msw@^0.19.5:
   version "0.19.5"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/msw/-/msw-0.19.5.tgz#7d2a1a852ccf1644d3db6735d69fff6777aac33f"
   integrity sha512-J5eQ++gDVZoHPC8gVXtWcakLjgmPipvFj/sEnlRV/WViXuiq2CamSqO3Wbh6H8bAmj+k2vUWCfcVT1HjMdKB2Q==
@@ -19284,6 +19284,11 @@ whatwg-fetch@^2.0.4:
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/whatwg-fetch/-/whatwg-fetch-2.0.4.tgz#dde6a5df315f9d39991aa17621853d720b85566f"
   integrity sha512-dcQ1GWpOD/eEQ97k66aiEVpNnapVj90/+R+SXTPYGHpYBBypfKJEQjLrvMZ7YXbKm21gXd4NcuxUTjiv1YtLng==
 
+whatwg-fetch@^3.2.0:
+  version "3.2.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/whatwg-fetch/-/whatwg-fetch-3.2.0.tgz#8e134f701f0a4ab5fda82626f113e2b647fd16dc"
+  integrity sha512-SdGPoQMMnzVYThUbSrEvqTlkvC1Ux27NehaJ/GUHBfNrh5Mjg+1/uRyFMwVnxO2MrikMWvWAqUGgQOfVU4hT7w==
+
 whatwg-mimetype@^2.1.0, whatwg-mimetype@^2.2.0, whatwg-mimetype@^2.3.0:
   version "2.3.0"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/whatwg-mimetype/-/whatwg-mimetype-2.3.0.tgz#3d4b1e0312d2079879f826aff18dbeeca5960fbf"