diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1b4bccc..b5ed06c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ REQUIRED data attributes:
 
 - `data-show-thoughts` — Allow users to see the AI's thought process, if applicable, in responses. If set to "false", users will only see a static "Thinking" indication without the explict thought content. If "true" the user will see the full thought content as well as the real response. Defaults to "false".
 
+- `data-first-message` — Allow the users to send a first message automatically on every startup.
+
 - `data-support-email` — Shows a support email that the user can used to draft an email via the "three dot" menu in the top right. Option will not appear if it is not set.
 
 ### `<iframe>` tag HTML embed
diff --git a/src/components/ChatWindow/ChatContainer/index.jsx b/src/components/ChatWindow/ChatContainer/index.jsx
index e6552f4..2c1aef4 100644
--- a/src/components/ChatWindow/ChatContainer/index.jsx
+++ b/src/components/ChatWindow/ChatContainer/index.jsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export default function ChatContainer({
   knownHistory = [],
 }) {
   const [message, setMessage] = useState("");
-  const [loadingResponse, setLoadingResponse] = useState(false);
+  const [loadingResponse, setLoadingResponse] = useState(settings.firstMessage ? true : false);
   const [chatHistory, setChatHistory] = useState(knownHistory);
 
   // Resync history if the ref to known history changes
diff --git a/src/hooks/chat/useChatHistory.js b/src/hooks/chat/useChatHistory.js
index a1f9f55..0e12a6c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/chat/useChatHistory.js
+++ b/src/hooks/chat/useChatHistory.js
@@ -13,6 +13,19 @@ export default function useChatHistory(settings = null, sessionId = null) {
           settings,
           sessionId
         );
+
+        if (settings.firstMessage && formattedMessages.length === 0) {
+          formattedMessages.push({ content: settings.firstMessage, role: "user", sentAt: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) });
+          formattedMessages.push({
+            content: "",
+            role: "assistant",
+            pending: true,
+            userMessage: settings.firstMessage,
+            animate: true,
+            sentAt: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
+          });
+        }
+
         setMessages(formattedMessages);
         setLoading(false);
       } catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/hooks/useScriptAttributes.js b/src/hooks/useScriptAttributes.js
index da5e55f..8352978 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useScriptAttributes.js
+++ b/src/hooks/useScriptAttributes.js
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ const DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
   supportEmail: null, // string of email for contact
   username: null, // The display or readable name set on a script
   defaultMessages: [], // list of strings for default messages.
+  firstMessage: null,
 };
 
 export default function useGetScriptAttributes() {