diff --git a/internal/cmd/crew.go b/internal/cmd/crew.go
index 4e00d6c2..a62e926b 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/crew.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/crew.go
@@ -240,8 +240,9 @@ var crewPrevCmd = &cobra.Command{
 }
 
 var crewStartCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "start <rig> [name]",
-	Short: "Start crew worker(s) in a rig",
+	Use:     "start <rig> [name]",
+	Aliases: []string{"spawn"},
+	Short:   "Start crew worker(s) in a rig",
 	Long: `Start crew workers in a rig, creating workspaces if they don't exist.
 
 Takes the rig name as the first argument. Optionally specify a crew member name
diff --git a/internal/cmd/deacon.go b/internal/cmd/deacon.go
index 45dfdb7f..f64ccd19 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/deacon.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/deacon.go
@@ -39,8 +39,9 @@ and check status.`,
 }
 
 var deaconStartCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "start",
-	Short: "Start the Deacon session",
+	Use:     "start",
+	Aliases: []string{"spawn"},
+	Short:   "Start the Deacon session",
 	Long: `Start the Deacon tmux session.
 
 Creates a new detached tmux session for the Deacon and launches Claude.
diff --git a/internal/cmd/refinery.go b/internal/cmd/refinery.go
index 19a9645c..30084b66 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/refinery.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/refinery.go
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ into integration branches and ultimately to main.`,
 }
 
 var refineryStartCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "start [rig]",
-	Short: "Start the refinery",
+	Use:     "start [rig]",
+	Aliases: []string{"spawn"},
+	Short:   "Start the refinery",
 	Long: `Start the Refinery for a rig.
 
 Launches the merge queue processor which monitors for polecat work branches
diff --git a/internal/cmd/witness.go b/internal/cmd/witness.go
index a658fc20..6a4876ee 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/witness.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/witness.go
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@ that seem blocked, and reports status to the mayor.`,
 }
 
 var witnessStartCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "start <rig>",
-	Short: "Start the witness",
+	Use:     "start <rig>",
+	Aliases: []string{"spawn"},
+	Short:   "Start the witness",
 	Long: `Start the Witness for a rig.
 
 Launches the monitoring agent which watches polecats for stuck or idle