diff --git a/src/main/database-base.ts b/src/main/database-base.ts
index 1133cb60..fdfed48d 100644
--- a/src/main/database-base.ts
+++ b/src/main/database-base.ts
@@ -285,6 +285,7 @@ export class AppDatabaseBase {
   listTasksForAssignees(companyId: string, assigneeIds: string[]) { return this.tasks.listTasksForAssignees(companyId, assigneeIds); }
   listReviewTasksForManager(managerId: string, companyId: string) { return this.tasks.listReviewTasksForManager(managerId, companyId); }
   countActiveTasksForCompany(companyId: string) { return this.tasks.countActiveTasksForCompany(companyId); }
+  countAdvancingTasksForCompany(companyId: string) { return this.tasks.countAdvancingTasksForCompany(companyId); }
   listChildTasks(parentId: string, companyId: string) { return this.tasks.listChildTasks(parentId, companyId); }
   advanceTaskStatus(taskId: string, newStatus: string, comment?: string) { return this.tasks.advanceTaskStatus(taskId, newStatus, comment); }
   setTaskRequiresUserReview(taskId: string, value: boolean) { return this.tasks.setTaskRequiresUserReview(taskId, value); }
diff --git a/src/main/database/task-queries.ts b/src/main/database/task-queries.ts
index 4d7fca43..02e2eebf 100644
--- a/src/main/database/task-queries.ts
+++ b/src/main/database/task-queries.ts
@@ -112,6 +112,24 @@ export function buildTaskQueryMethods(
       return row.cnt;
     },
 
+    /**
+     * Count tasks that are actively producing progress this cycle —
+     * todo (waiting to be checked out) and in_progress (currently being
+     * worked). Excludes in_review (waiting on a human or manager) and
+     * blocked (waiting on a resolution). Used by the bootstrap
+     * scheduler to decide whether the CEO needs to be pinged: a company
+     * where every task is stuck in review or blocked is functionally
+     * idle even though countActiveTasksForCompany reports > 0.
+     */
+    countAdvancingTasksForCompany(companyId: string): number {
+      const row = getDb()
+        .prepare(
+          "select count(*) as cnt from tasks where company_id = ? and status in ('todo','in_progress')",
+        )
+        .get(companyId) as { cnt: number };
+      return row.cnt;
+    },
+
     listChildTasks(
       parentId: string,
       companyId: string,
diff --git a/src/main/orchestration/scheduler-heartbeat.ts b/src/main/orchestration/scheduler-heartbeat.ts
index 5da0096c..02a5a342 100644
--- a/src/main/orchestration/scheduler-heartbeat.ts
+++ b/src/main/orchestration/scheduler-heartbeat.ts
@@ -95,15 +95,23 @@ export function createHeartbeatScheduler(
             }
 
             const goalCount = db.countActiveGoalsForCompany(company.id);
-            const taskCount = db.countActiveTasksForCompany(company.id);
-            if (goalCount > 0 && taskCount === 0) {
+            // Bootstrap when the company has active goals but no work is
+            // actually advancing. The previous gate ("taskCount === 0")
+            // missed the case where every task is in_review or blocked —
+            // the company looks busy to the counter but produces zero
+            // progress, and the CEO would not be woken until the next
+            // regular timer interval. countAdvancingTasksForCompany
+            // counts only todo + in_progress so bootstrapping still
+            // fires once the team stalls.
+            const advancingCount = db.countAdvancingTasksForCompany(company.id);
+            if (goalCount > 0 && advancingCount === 0) {
               const ceo = db.getCeoForCompany(company.id);
               const ceoLastWake = ceo?.lastHeartbeatAt ? new Date(ceo.lastHeartbeatAt).getTime() : 0;
               const ceoLastAttempt = ceo ? attemptedAtByAgent.get(ceo.id) ?? 0 : 0;
               const ceoLastTouch = Math.max(ceoLastWake, ceoLastAttempt);
               const bootstrapCooldown = 120_000;
               if (ceo && !hasActiveRun({ agentId: ceo.id, companyId: company.id }) && (now - ceoLastTouch > bootstrapCooldown)) {
-                logger.info(`[heartbeat] Company ${company.name} has ${goalCount} goals but no tasks — bootstrapping CEO ${ceo.name}`);
+                logger.info(`[heartbeat] Company ${company.name} has ${goalCount} goal(s) and no advancing tasks — bootstrapping CEO ${ceo.name}`);
                 tryWake(ceo.id, company.id, ceo.name, "bootstrap");
               }
             }
diff --git a/src/main/prompt-builder/wake-reasons/en.ts b/src/main/prompt-builder/wake-reasons/en.ts
index 0b3ecba9..467f0452 100644
--- a/src/main/prompt-builder/wake-reasons/en.ts
+++ b/src/main/prompt-builder/wake-reasons/en.ts
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ export const WAKE_REASONS: Record<WakeReason, WakeReasonEntry> = {
     title: "Regular heartbeat check-in. This is your periodic wake.",
     steps: () => [
       "Call GET /api/agents/me/standup to get your full briefing",
-      "Review all your assigned tasks and their statuses",
-      "Take action on the most important item: reviews > unblocking > new work",
+      "Walk `unreadMessages` first — every unanswered peer DM blocks somebody else's next move. Reply and mark read before you pick up task work.",
+      "Then take action on the most important item remaining: reviews > unblocking reports > next step on assigned work",
       "If nothing actionable is in your briefing, return control without posting a status comment — activity noise is worse than silence.",
     ],
   },