diff --git a/internal/session/manager.go b/internal/session/manager.go
index 497f4055..abc27a1a 100644
--- a/internal/session/manager.go
+++ b/internal/session/manager.go
@@ -201,6 +201,16 @@ func (m *Manager) Start(polecat string, opts StartOptions) error {
 		// Non-fatal: session works without beacon
 	}
 
+	// GUPP: Gas Town Universal Propulsion Principle
+	// Send the propulsion nudge to trigger autonomous work execution.
+	// The beacon alone is just metadata - this nudge is the actual instruction
+	// that triggers Claude to check the hook and begin work.
+	// Small delay to ensure beacon is processed first.
+	time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+	if err := m.tmux.NudgeSession(sessionID, PropulsionNudge()); err != nil {
+		// Non-fatal: witness can still nudge later
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/session/names.go b/internal/session/names.go
index ecedf91c..5a2b6118 100644
--- a/internal/session/names.go
+++ b/internal/session/names.go
@@ -57,3 +57,11 @@ func SessionBeacon(address, molID string) string {
 	timestamp := time.Now().Format("2006-01-02T15:04")
 	return fmt.Sprintf("[GAS TOWN] %s • %s • %s", address, molID, timestamp)
 }
+
+// PropulsionNudge generates the GUPP (Gas Town Universal Propulsion Principle) nudge.
+// This is sent after the beacon to trigger autonomous work execution.
+// The agent receives this as user input, triggering the propulsion principle:
+// "If work is on your hook, YOU RUN IT."
+func PropulsionNudge() string {
+	return "Run `gt mol status` to check your hook and begin work."
+}