diff --git a/src/components/NewMessageDialog.tsx b/src/components/NewMessageDialog.tsx
index ff61712..8adb246 100644
--- a/src/components/NewMessageDialog.tsx
+++ b/src/components/NewMessageDialog.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { useCrewmates } from '@/hooks/useCrewmates';
 import { useFollowing } from '@/hooks/useFollowing';
 import { genUserName } from '@/lib/genUserName';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
-import { MessageCircle, Search, Users, UserCheck, ArrowRight } from 'lucide-react';
+import { MessageCircle, Search, Users, UserCheck, ArrowRight, CheckCircle2 } from 'lucide-react';
 
 interface NewMessageDialogProps {
   open: boolean;
@@ -38,10 +38,12 @@ function PersonRow({
   candidate,
   query,
   onPick,
+  selected,
 }: {
   candidate: Candidate;
   query: string;
   onPick: (pubkey: string) => void;
+  selected: boolean;
 }) {
   const author = useAuthor(candidate.pubkey);
   const metadata = author.data?.metadata;
@@ -59,7 +61,10 @@ function PersonRow({
     <button
       type="button"
       onClick={() => onPick(candidate.pubkey)}
-      className="flex w-full items-center gap-3 rounded-lg p-2.5 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-gray-800 active:scale-[0.99]"
+      className={cn(
+        'flex w-full items-center gap-3 rounded-lg p-2.5 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-gray-800 active:scale-[0.99]',
+        selected && 'bg-[#ccff00]/10',
+      )}
     >
       <Avatar className="h-10 w-10 border-2 border-gray-700 flex-shrink-0">
         <AvatarImage src={metadata?.picture} alt={name} />
@@ -73,7 +78,11 @@ function PersonRow({
           <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 truncate">{candidate.hint}</p>
         )}
       </div>
-      <ArrowRight className="h-4 w-4 text-gray-600 flex-shrink-0" />
+      {selected ? (
+        <CheckCircle2 className="h-5 w-5 flex-shrink-0 text-[#ccff00]" />
+      ) : (
+        <ArrowRight className="h-4 w-4 flex-shrink-0 text-gray-600" />
+      )}
     </button>
   );
 }
@@ -91,6 +100,7 @@ export function NewMessageDialog({ open, onOpenChange }: NewMessageDialogProps)
 
   const [query, setQuery] = useState('');
   const [rawError, setRawError] = useState('');
+  const [selected, setSelected] = useState<string[]>([]);
 
   // Merge crew-mates (with shared-crew hints) and followed accounts, de-duped.
   const candidates = useMemo<Candidate[]>(() => {
@@ -122,13 +132,35 @@ export function NewMessageDialog({ open, onOpenChange }: NewMessageDialogProps)
   const crewCandidates = candidates.filter((c) => c.group === 'crew');
   const followingCandidates = candidates.filter((c) => c.group === 'following');
 
-  const goToConversation = (pubkey: string) => {
+  const reset = () => {
     onOpenChange(false);
     setQuery('');
     setRawError('');
+    setSelected([]);
+  };
+
+  const goToConversation = (pubkey: string) => {
+    reset();
     navigate(`/messages/${nip19.npubEncode(pubkey)}`);
   };
 
+  /** Add/remove a person from the group selection. */
+  const toggleSelected = (pubkey: string) =>
+    setSelected((prev) =>
+      prev.includes(pubkey) ? prev.filter((p) => p !== pubkey) : [...prev, pubkey],
+    );
+
+  /** One person → 1:1 thread; two or more → an encrypted group thread. */
+  const startChat = () => {
+    if (selected.length === 0) return;
+    const to =
+      selected.length === 1
+        ? `/messages/${nip19.npubEncode(selected[0])}`
+        : `/messages/group/${selected.join(',')}`;
+    reset();
+    navigate(to);
+  };
+
   // If the query looks like a raw key, offer to open it directly.
   const trimmed = query.trim();
   const looksLikeNpub = trimmed.startsWith('npub1');
@@ -163,7 +195,7 @@ export function NewMessageDialog({ open, onOpenChange }: NewMessageDialogProps)
             New Message
           </DialogTitle>
           <DialogDescription className="text-gray-400 text-sm">
-            Search your people by name, or paste an npub to message anyone.
+            Search your people by name, or paste an npub to message anyone. Select two or more to start a group.
           </DialogDescription>
         </DialogHeader>
 
@@ -224,7 +256,8 @@ export function NewMessageDialog({ open, onOpenChange }: NewMessageDialogProps)
                             key={c.pubkey}
                             candidate={c}
                             query={query}
-                            onPick={goToConversation}
+                            selected={selected.includes(c.pubkey)}
+                            onPick={toggleSelected}
                           />
                         ))}
                       </div>
@@ -241,7 +274,8 @@ export function NewMessageDialog({ open, onOpenChange }: NewMessageDialogProps)
                             key={c.pubkey}
                             candidate={c}
                             query={query}
-                            onPick={goToConversation}
+                            selected={selected.includes(c.pubkey)}
+                            onPick={toggleSelected}
                           />
                         ))}
                       </div>
@@ -251,6 +285,19 @@ export function NewMessageDialog({ open, onOpenChange }: NewMessageDialogProps)
               )}
             </ScrollArea>
           )}
+
+          {selected.length > 0 && (
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 border-t border-white/5 pt-3">
+              <span className="text-xs text-gray-400">{selected.length} selected</span>
+              <Button
+                onClick={startChat}
+                className="ml-auto h-10 bg-[#ff0040] font-bold text-white hover:bg-[#ff0040]/90"
+              >
+                {selected.length > 1 ? `Start group (${selected.length})` : 'Message'}
+                <ArrowRight className="ml-2 h-4 w-4" />
+              </Button>
+            </div>
+          )}
         </div>
       </DialogContent>
     </Dialog>