diff --git a/backend/app/database.py b/backend/app/database.py
index 2d026cc..bdd244a 100644
--- a/backend/app/database.py
+++ b/backend/app/database.py
@@ -48,10 +48,19 @@ def load_slots_data(session: Session):
     from .data import slots
     from .data import proposals
 
-    if not session.query(models.Slot).first():  # Load only if no slots exist
-        session.add_all(slots)
-        session.add_all(proposals)
-        session.commit()
+    # Only load data if slots are missing
+    if not session.query(models.Slot).first():
+        session.add_all(slots)  # Add slots
+        print("[INFO] Seeding slots...")
+
+    # Check if proposals table is empty and seed proposals
+    if not session.query(models.Proposal).first():
+        session.add_all(proposals)  # Add proposals
+        print("[INFO] Seeding proposals...")
+
+    # Commit all changes to the database
+    session.commit()
+    print("[INFO] Seeding complete.")
 
 
 # Load full sample data (used in dev/test)
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 3946c63..b7b2126 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from app.routers import (
     auth,
     sample,
 )
-from app.database import Base, engine, SessionLocal, load_sample_data, load_slots_data
+from app.database import Base, engine, SessionLocal
 
 
 # Utility function to fetch metadata from pyproject.toml
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ app.add_middleware(
 
 @app.on_event("startup")
 def on_startup():
+    print("[INFO] Running application startup tasks...")
     db = SessionLocal()
     try:
         if environment == "prod":
@@ -102,20 +103,26 @@ def on_startup():
             inspector = reflection.Inspector.from_engine(engine)
             tables_exist = inspector.get_table_names()
 
+            # Ensure the production database is initialized
             if not tables_exist:
                 print("Production database is empty. Initializing...")
                 Base.metadata.create_all(bind=engine)
-                load_slots_data(db)
-            else:
-                print("Production database already initialized.")
 
-        else:  # dev or test
+            # Seed the database (slots + proposals)
+            from app.database import load_slots_data
+
+            load_slots_data(db)
+        else:  # dev or test environments
             print(f"{environment.capitalize()} environment: Regenerating database.")
             Base.metadata.drop_all(bind=engine)
             Base.metadata.create_all(bind=engine)
             if environment == "dev":
+                from app.database import load_sample_data
+
                 load_sample_data(db)
             elif environment == "test":
+                from app.database import load_slots_data
+
                 load_slots_data(db)
     finally:
         db.close()