diff --git a/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/inbox-handlers.test.ts b/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/inbox-handlers.test.ts
index 18394dba..0ab33d12 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/inbox-handlers.test.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/inbox-handlers.test.ts
@@ -420,6 +420,36 @@ describe('handleSendToInbox - threadKey', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it('should dispatch trigger for new self-thread session_resume (strategy first kickoff)', async () => {
+    const { getAgentGateway } = await import('../../channels/agent-gateway.js');
+    const mockGateway = (getAgentGateway as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>)();
+    // findThread returns null → new thread path
+    const { findThread } = await import('./thread-handlers.js');
+    vi.mocked(findThread).mockResolvedValue(null);
+
+    const mockSb = createThreadMockSupabase();
+    const mockDc = createThreadMockDataComposer(mockSb);
+
+    await handleSendToInbox(
+      {
+        email: 'test@test.com',
+        recipientAgentId: 'wren',
+        senderAgentId: 'wren',
+        messageType: 'session_resume',
+        threadKey: 'strategy:new-group-123',
+        content: 'Strategy kickoff — first trigger',
+      },
+      mockDc as never
+    );
+
+    expect(mockGateway.dispatchTrigger).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        toAgentId: 'wren',
+        threadKey: 'strategy:new-group-123',
+      })
+    );
+  });
+
   // ===================================================================
   // 2FA SECURITY — permission_grant from agent senders must be rejected
   // ===================================================================
diff --git a/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/inbox-handlers.ts b/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/inbox-handlers.ts
index 80a1fb7d..ae28e9dc 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/inbox-handlers.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/inbox-handlers.ts
@@ -547,8 +547,11 @@ export async function handleSendToInbox(args: unknown, dataComposer: DataCompose
           selfStudioTarget,
         });
       } else {
-        // New thread: trigger all recipients (exclude sender unless cross-studio self-message)
-        agentsToTrigger = allRecipients.filter((a) => selfStudioTarget || a !== senderAgentId);
+        // New thread: trigger all recipients (exclude sender unless cross-studio
+        // self-message or actionable self-target like strategy kickoff)
+        const actionableSelf = new Set(['task_request', 'session_resume']);
+        const allowSelf = selfStudioTarget || (!!messageType && actionableSelf.has(messageType));
+        agentsToTrigger = allRecipients.filter((a) => allowSelf || a !== senderAgentId);
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/thread-handlers.test.ts b/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/thread-handlers.test.ts
index 28b2d501..5a96ee80 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/thread-handlers.test.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/thread-handlers.test.ts
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ describe('resolveTriggeredAgents', () => {
   });
 
   describe('self-thread (1 participant)', () => {
-    it('should trigger no one', () => {
+    it('should trigger no one for plain messages', () => {
       const result = resolveTriggeredAgents({
         senderAgentId: 'wren',
         participants: ['wren'],
@@ -178,6 +178,36 @@ describe('resolveTriggeredAgents', () => {
       });
       expect(result).toEqual([]);
     });
+
+    it('should trigger self for session_resume (strategy self-trigger)', () => {
+      const result = resolveTriggeredAgents({
+        senderAgentId: 'wren',
+        participants: ['wren'],
+        creatorAgentId: 'wren',
+        messageType: 'session_resume',
+      });
+      expect(result).toEqual(['wren']);
+    });
+
+    it('should trigger self for task_request', () => {
+      const result = resolveTriggeredAgents({
+        senderAgentId: 'wren',
+        participants: ['wren'],
+        creatorAgentId: 'wren',
+        messageType: 'task_request',
+      });
+      expect(result).toEqual(['wren']);
+    });
+
+    it('should not trigger self for notification', () => {
+      const result = resolveTriggeredAgents({
+        senderAgentId: 'wren',
+        participants: ['wren'],
+        creatorAgentId: 'wren',
+        messageType: 'notification',
+      });
+      expect(result).toEqual([]);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('triggerAll override', () => {
diff --git a/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/thread-handlers.ts b/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/thread-handlers.ts
index 49d805b1..6a91516b 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/thread-handlers.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/mcp/tools/thread-handlers.ts
@@ -198,9 +198,14 @@ export function resolveTriggeredAgents(opts: {
   // Precedence 3: default rules by thread size
   const otherParticipants = participants.filter((a) => a !== senderAgentId);
 
-  // Self-thread (1 participant): trigger only if cross-studio self-message
+  // Self-thread (1 participant): trigger if cross-studio OR actionable message type.
+  // session_resume / task_request to self are inherently "wake me up" signals
+  // (e.g., strategy triggers) and must not be silently dropped.
   if (otherParticipants.length === 0) {
-    return selfStudioTarget ? [senderAgentId] : [];
+    if (selfStudioTarget) return [senderAgentId];
+    const selfActionable = new Set(['task_request', 'session_resume']);
+    if (messageType && selfActionable.has(messageType)) return [senderAgentId];
+    return [];
   }
 
   // 1:1 thread (2 participants): trigger the other one