diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index bdd4b7b..e0346d9 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "reflector-dao-contract"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.3.0"
 dependencies = [
  "soroban-sdk",
 ]
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index b49171f..ac1f9b2 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "reflector-dao-contract"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.3.0"
 edition = "2021"
 
 [lib]
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index e55cb1f..b95a711 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ impl DAOContract {
         // save the configuration
         e.set_admin(&config.admin);
         e.set_token(&config.token);
-        e.set_last_unlock(e.ledger().timestamp());
+        e.set_last_unlock(config.start_date);
         //set deposit params
         set_deposit(&e, config.deposit_params);
         // transfer tokens to the DAO contract
diff --git a/src/test.rs b/src/test.rs
index db6dd7f..a01c593 100644
--- a/src/test.rs
+++ b/src/test.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ fn init_contract_with_admin<'a>() -> (Env, DAOContractClient<'a>, ContractConfig
             (BallotCategory::AddPriceFeed, 100_000_0000000),
             (BallotCategory::AddAsset, 5_000_0000000),
             (BallotCategory::General, 10_000_0000000),
-        ])
+        ]),
+        start_date: 0,
     };
 
     //set admin
@@ -147,6 +148,19 @@ fn test() {
         assert!(balance > 0);
     });
 
+    env.as_contract(&client.address, || {
+        let last_unlock = env.get_last_unlock();
+        assert_eq!(last_unlock, UNLOCK_PERIOD as u64);
+    });    
+
+    //unlock again
+    client.unlock(&developer, &operators);
+
+    env.as_contract(&client.address, || {
+        let last_unlock = env.get_last_unlock();
+        assert_eq!(last_unlock, (UNLOCK_PERIOD * 2) as u64);
+    }); 
+
     let available = client.available(&developer);
     assert!(available > 0);
 
diff --git a/src/types/contract_config.rs b/src/types/contract_config.rs
index f252e99..cf57b2a 100644
--- a/src/types/contract_config.rs
+++ b/src/types/contract_config.rs
@@ -14,5 +14,7 @@ pub struct ContractConfig {
     /// Initial funding amount
     pub amount: i128,
     /// Initial deposit amounts for each ballot category
-    pub deposit_params: Map<BallotCategory, i128>
+    pub deposit_params: Map<BallotCategory, i128>,
+    /// DAO start date
+    pub start_date: u64
 }