diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 3195e8d35..cdb8eac23 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
 
 S3method("+",bform)
+S3method("+",brmsinits)
 S3method("+",brmsprior)
 S3method("+",stanvars)
 S3method(.compute_point_estimate,brmsprep)
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ S3method(bridge_sampler,brmsfit)
 S3method(brmsterms,brmsformula)
 S3method(brmsterms,default)
 S3method(brmsterms,mvbrmsformula)
+S3method(c,brmsinits)
 S3method(c,brmsprior)
 S3method(c,stanvars)
 S3method(coef,brmsfit)
@@ -159,6 +161,7 @@ S3method(nsamples,brmsfit)
 S3method(nuts_params,brmsfit)
 S3method(nvariables,brmsfit)
 S3method(pairs,brmsfit)
+S3method(par_info,brmsterms)
 S3method(parnames,brmsfit)
 S3method(parnames,default)
 S3method(plot,brmsMarginalEffects)
@@ -585,6 +588,7 @@ export(rwiener)
 export(s)
 export(sar)
 export(save_pars)
+export(set_inits)
 export(set_mecor)
 export(set_nl)
 export(set_prior)
diff --git a/R/brm.R b/R/brm.R
index 43c86dc1a..70dbf23aa 100644
--- a/R/brm.R
+++ b/R/brm.R
@@ -544,6 +544,22 @@ brm <- function(formula, data, family = gaussian(), prior = NULL,
       normalize = normalize
     )
 
+    # generate Stan data before compiling the model to avoid
+    # unnecessary compilations in case of invalid data
+    sdata <- .standata(
+      bterms, data = data, prior = prior, data2 = data2,
+      stanvars = stanvars, threads = threads
+    )
+
+    # generate inits
+    if (is.brmsinits(init)) {
+      init <- replicate(
+        chains,
+        .inits_fun(init, bterms = bterms, data = data, sdata = sdata),
+        simplify = FALSE
+      )
+    }
+
     # initialize S3 object
     x <- brmsfit(
       formula = formula, data = data, data2 = data2, prior = prior,
@@ -554,12 +570,6 @@ brm <- function(formula, data, family = gaussian(), prior = NULL,
       stan_args = nlist(init, silent, control, stan_model_args, ...)
     )
     exclude <- exclude_pars(x)
-    # generate Stan data before compiling the model to avoid
-    # unnecessary compilations in case of invalid data
-    sdata <- .standata(
-      bterms, data = data, prior = prior, data2 = data2,
-      stanvars = stanvars, threads = threads
-    )
 
     if (empty) {
       # return the brmsfit object with an empty 'fit' slot
diff --git a/R/inits.R b/R/inits.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..15aa550bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/inits.R
@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+#' Init definitions for **brms** models
+#'
+#' Define how initial values for specific parameters are generated.
+#'
+#' @inheritParams set_prior
+#' @param distribution A character string specifying the distribution of the initial values
+#'
+#' @return An object of class `brmsinits` to be used in the `init` argument of [brm]
+#' @export
+#'
+#' @examples
+#' \dontrun{
+#' inits <- set_inits("normal(0, 1)", class = "Intercept", coef = "mu") +
+#'         set_inits("uniform(-1, 1)", class = "b", coef = "mu")
+#' # use the inits in a brm call
+#' fit <- brm(count ~ Trt + zAge, epilepsy, poisson(), init = inits)
+#' }
+set_inits <- function(distribution, class = "b", coef = "", group = "",
+                      dpar = "", nlpar = "") {
+  input <- nlist(distribution, class, coef, group, dpar, nlpar)
+  input <- try(as.data.frame(input), silent = TRUE)
+  if (is_try_error(input)) {
+    stop2("Processing arguments of 'set_inits' has failed:\n", input)
+  }
+  out <- vector("list", nrow(input))
+  for (i in seq_along(out)) {
+    out[[i]] <- do_call(.set_inits, input[i, ])
+  }
+  Reduce("+", out)
+}
+
+
+# validate arguments passed to 'set_inits'
+.set_inits <- function(distribution, class, coef, group,
+                       dpar, nlpar) {
+  distribution <- as_one_character(distribution)
+  class <- as_one_character(class)
+  group <- as_one_character(group)
+  coef <- as_one_character(coef)
+  dpar <- as_one_character(dpar)
+  nlpar <- as_one_character(nlpar)
+  if (dpar == "mu") {
+    # distributional parameter 'mu' is currently implicit
+    dpar <- ""
+  }
+  out <- data.frame(distribution, class, coef, group, dpar, nlpar)
+  class(out) <- c("brmsinits", "data.frame")
+  out
+}
+
+# Internal function for generating a list of inits to pass to stan from a
+# brmsinits object created from set_inits()
+# @param binits A brmsinits object
+# @param bterms A brmsterms object
+# @param data The data used in the model
+# @param sdata The stan data list
+# @return A list of inits to pass to stan
+.inits_fun <- function(binits, bterms, data, sdata) {
+  # TODO: check if inits are properly specified (similar to how the priors are checked)
+  pars <- paste0(binits$dpar, binits$nlpar)
+  sep <- ifelse(pars == "", "", "_")
+  # temporary - works for Intercept and b, but not for sd, z, etc; needs to be generalized by using code from .stancode
+  binits$stanpars <- paste0(binits$class, sep, pars)
+  # get the information typically used in the parameters block of stancode
+  info <- par_info(bterms, data)
+
+  dims <- sdata[info$b_dim_name]
+  dims <- ifelse(is.na(info$b_dim_name), 1, dims)
+  prefixes <- ifelse(info$b_type == "real", "", "array(")
+  suffixes <- ifelse(info$b_type == "real", "", ")") # here we would add dimensions as well
+
+  # construct the call for generating inits for each row of binits
+  out <- list()
+  for (i in 1:nrow(binits)) {
+    idx <- which(info$b_par == binits$stanpars[[i]])
+    pinfo <- info[idx, ]
+    dist <- parse_dist(binits$distribution[[i]])
+    args <- paste0(dist$args, collapse = ", ")
+    prefix <- prefixes[idx]
+    suffix <- suffixes[idx]
+    dim <- dims[[idx]]
+    call <- glue('{prefix}{dist$fun}({dim}, {args}){suffix}')
+    call <- parse(text = call)
+    out[[binits$stanpars[[i]]]] <- eval(call)
+  }
+
+  out
+}
+
+
+# combine multiple brmsinits objects into one brmsinits (code almost identical to
+# c.brmsprior)
+#' @export
+c.brmsinits <- function(x, ..., replace = FALSE) {
+  dots <- list(...)
+  if (all(sapply(dots, is.brmsinits))) {
+    replace <- as_one_logical(replace)
+    # don't use 'c()' here to avoid creating a recursion
+    out <- do_call(rbind, list(x, ...))
+    if (replace) {
+      # update duplicated inits
+      out <- unique(out, fromLast = TRUE)
+    }
+  } else {
+    if (length(dots)) {
+      stop2("Cannot add '", class(dots[[1]])[1], "' objects to the inits")
+    }
+    out <- c(as.data.frame(x))
+  }
+  out
+}
+
+#' @export
+"+.brmsinits" <- function(e1, e2) {
+  if (is.null(e2)) {
+    return(e1)
+  }
+  if (!is.brmsinits(e2)) {
+    stop2("Cannot add '", class(e2)[1], "' objects to the inits")
+  }
+  c(e1, e2)
+}
+
+is.brmsinits <- function(x) {
+  inherits(x, "brmsinits")
+}
+
+
+# takes a character vector like 'normal(0, 1)' and returns a list with the
+# r* function and its arguments
+# to do - more careful checks of the passed format?
+parse_dist <- function(x) {
+  x <- as_one_character(x)
+  x <- parse(text = x)[[1]]
+  dist <- as.character(x[[1]])
+  args <- as.list(x[-1])
+  args <- lapply(args, function(x) {
+    tmp <- as.character(x)
+    as.numeric(collapse(tmp))
+  })
+  fun <- to_rfun(dist)
+  nlist(fun, args)
+}
+
+# takes a character string and returns the corresponding r random generation
+# function
+to_rfun <- function(x) {
+  x <- as_one_character(x)
+  # TODO expandlist
+  dists <- c(normal = 'norm', poisson = 'pois', binomial = 'binom',
+             inv_gamma = 'invgamma', lognormal = 'lnorm', exponential = 'exp',
+             uniform = 'unif')
+  out <- dists[x]
+  if (is.null(out) || is.na(out)) {
+    out <- x
+  }
+  paste0("r", out)
+}
+
+par_info <- function(bterms, data, ...) {
+  UseMethod("par_info")
+}
+
+#' @export
+par_info.brmsterms <- function(bterms, data, ...) {
+  out <- list()
+  for (par in names(bterms$dpars)) {
+    info <- par_info_fe(bterms$dpars[[par]], data)
+    info <- as.data.frame(info)
+    out <- rbind(out, info)
+  }
+  out
+}
+
+# internal function for extracting information about the population-effects parameters
+# that is typically part of the parameters block of the stan code
+# @param bterms A brmsterms object
+# @param data The data used in the model
+# @return A list with the following elements:
+#   - b_type: the type of the parameter (real, vector, array)
+#   - b_dim_name: the name of the dimension of the parameter (should match in standata)
+#   - b_par: the name of the parameter in stan
+# @details
+#   if a parameter is described as vector[Kc_sigma] b_sigma, the output will be:
+#   list(b_type = "vector", b_dim_name = "Kc_sigma", b_par = "b_sigma")
+par_info_fe <- function(bterms, data) {
+  out <- list()
+  family <- bterms$family
+  fixef <- colnames(data_fe(bterms, data)$X)
+  center_X <- stan_center_X(bterms)
+  ct <- str_if(center_X, "c")
+  # remove the intercept from the design matrix?
+  if (center_X) {
+    fixef <- setdiff(fixef, "Intercept")
+  }
+  px <- check_prefix(bterms)
+  p <- usc(combine_prefix(px))
+  resp <- usc(px$resp)
+
+  out <- list()
+  if (length(fixef)) {
+    out$b_type <- "vector"
+    out$b_dim_name <- glue("K{ct}{p}")
+    out$b_par <- glue("b{p}")
+  }
+
+  if (center_X) {
+    c(out$b_type) <- "real"
+    c(out$b_dim_name) <- NA
+    c(out$b_par) <- glue("Intercept{p}")
+  }
+  out
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/man/set_inits.Rd b/man/set_inits.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ba3e70d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/set_inits.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/inits.R
+\name{set_inits}
+\alias{set_inits}
+\title{Init definitions for **brms** models}
+\usage{
+set_inits(
+  distribution,
+  class = "b",
+  coef = "",
+  group = "",
+  dpar = "",
+  nlpar = ""
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{distribution}{A character string specifying the distribution of the initial values}
+
+\item{class}{The parameter class. Defaults to \code{"b"}
+(i.e. population-level effects).
+See 'Details' for other valid parameter classes.}
+
+\item{coef}{Name of the coefficient within the parameter class.}
+
+\item{group}{Grouping factor for group-level parameters.}
+
+\item{dpar}{Name of a distributional parameter.
+Only used in distributional models.}
+
+\item{nlpar}{Name of a non-linear parameter.
+Only used in non-linear models.}
+}
+\value{
+An object of class `brmsinits` to be used in the `init` argument of [brm]
+}
+\description{
+Define how initial values for specific parameters are generated.
+}
+\examples{
+\dontrun{
+inits <- set_inits("normal(0, 1)", class = "Intercept", coef = "mu") +
+        set_inits("uniform(-1, 1)", class = "b", coef = "mu")
+# use the inits in a brm call
+fit <- brm(count ~ Trt + zAge, epilepsy, poisson(), init = inits)
+}
+}
diff --git a/tests/local/tests.set_inits.R b/tests/local/tests.set_inits.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d2e27ed94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/local/tests.set_inits.R
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+source("tests/local/setup_tests_local.R")
+
+data <- epilepsy
+data$cat <- factor(sample(1:5, nrow(data), replace = TRUE))
+
+test_that('gaussian model runs with set_inits', {
+  formula <- bf(count ~ cat + Age,
+                sigma ~ cat + Age)
+
+  inits <- set_inits('normal(0, 1)', class = "Intercept", dpar = "mu") +
+    set_inits('uniform(-0.1, 0.1)', class = "b", dpar = "sigma")
+
+  out <- capture_messages(fit <- brm(formula, data = data, init = inits, refresh = 0, chains = 2))
+  out <- paste0(out, collapse = "\n")
+  expect_true(grepl("Missing init values for the following parameters:", out))
+  expect_true(grepl(": b, Intercept_sigma\n", out))
+  fit_init <- fit$stan_args$init
+  expect_length(fit_init, 2)
+  expect_equal(names(fit_init[[1]]), c("Intercept", "b_sigma"))
+  expect_range(fit_init[[1]]$b_sigma, -0.1, 0.1)
+})
+
+
+test_that('poisson model runs with set_inits', {
+  formula <- bf(count ~ cat + Age)
+
+  inits <- set_inits('normal(0, 1)', class = "Intercept", dpar = "mu") +
+    set_inits('uniform(-0.1, 0.1)', class = "b", dpar = "mu")
+
+  out <- capture_messages(fit <- brm(formula, data = data, family = poisson(),
+                                     init = inits, refresh = 0, chains = 2))
+  out <- paste0(out, collapse = "\n")
+  expect_false(grepl("Missing init values for the following parameters:", out))
+  fit_init <- fit$stan_args$init
+  expect_length(fit_init, 2)
+  expect_equal(names(fit_init[[1]]), c("Intercept", "b"))
+  expect_range(fit_init[[1]]$b, -0.1, 0.1)
+})
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-inits.R b/tests/testthat/test-inits.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d37512c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-inits.R
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+test_that('set_inits produces the correct format', {
+  res <- set_inits('normal(0, 1)', class = "Intercept", dpar = "mu")
+  expect_s3_class(res, "data.frame")
+  expect_s3_class(res, "brmsinits")
+  out <- as.data.frame(res)
+  expect_equal(out, data.frame(distribution = "normal(0, 1)",
+                               class = "Intercept",
+                               coef = "",
+                               group = "",
+                               dpar = "",
+                               nlpar = ""))
+
+  res2 <- set_inits('normal(0, 1)', class = "sd", dpar = "sigma")
+  out <- res + res2
+  out <- as.data.frame(out)
+  expect_equal(out, data.frame(distribution = c("normal(0, 1)", "normal(0, 1)"),
+                               class = c("Intercept", "sd"),
+                               coef = c("", ""),
+                               group = c("", ""),
+                               dpar = c("", "sigma"),
+                               nlpar = c("", "")))
+})
+
+
+test_that('parse_dist works', {
+  d <- 'normal(0, 1)'
+  res <- parse_dist(d)
+  expect_equal(res, list(fun = "rnorm", args = list(0, 1)))
+
+  d <- 'uniform(-1, 1.5)'
+  res <- parse_dist(d)
+  expect_equal(res, list(fun = "runif", args = list(-1, 1.5)))
+})
+
+
+test_that('.inits_fun works', {
+  data <- epilepsy
+  data$cat <- factor(sample(1:5, nrow(data), replace = TRUE))
+  formula <- formula <- bf(count ~ cat + Age,
+                           sigma ~ cat + Age)
+  bterms <- brmsterms(formula)
+  sdata <- standata(formula, data = data)
+
+  inits <- set_inits('normal(0, 1)', class = "Intercept", dpar = "mu") +
+    set_inits('uniform(-1, 1)', class = "b", dpar = "sigma")
+
+  out <- .inits_fun(inits, bterms = bterms, data = data, sdata = sdata)
+  expect_type(out, "list")
+  expect_equal(names(out), c("Intercept", "b_sigma"))
+  expect_length(out$Intercept, 1)
+  expect_equal(class(out$Intercept), "numeric")
+  expect_length(out$b_sigma, 5)
+  expect_equal(class(out$b_sigma), "array")
+})