diff --git a/apps/rowboat/app/projects/[projectId]/copilot/app.tsx b/apps/rowboat/app/projects/[projectId]/copilot/app.tsx
index 52358666..881fd0ef 100644
--- a/apps/rowboat/app/projects/[projectId]/copilot/app.tsx
+++ b/apps/rowboat/app/projects/[projectId]/copilot/app.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ interface AppProps {
     dispatch: (action: any) => void;
     chatContext?: any;
     onCopyJson?: (data: { messages: any[], lastRequest: any, lastResponse: any }) => void;
+    onMessagesChange?: (messages: z.infer<typeof CopilotMessage>[]) => void;
 }
 
 const App = forwardRef<{ handleCopyChat: () => void }, AppProps>(function App({
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ const App = forwardRef<{ handleCopyChat: () => void }, AppProps>(function App({
     dispatch,
     chatContext = undefined,
     onCopyJson,
+    onMessagesChange,
 }, ref) {
     const messagesEndRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
     const [messages, setMessages] = useState<z.infer<typeof CopilotMessage>[]>([]);
@@ -47,6 +49,11 @@ const App = forwardRef<{ handleCopyChat: () => void }, AppProps>(function App({
     const [lastRequest, setLastRequest] = useState<unknown | null>(null);
     const [lastResponse, setLastResponse] = useState<unknown | null>(null);
 
+    // Notify parent of message changes
+    useEffect(() => {
+        onMessagesChange?.(messages);
+    }, [messages, onMessagesChange]);
+
     // Check for initial prompt in local storage and send it
     useEffect(() => {
         const prompt = localStorage.getItem(`project_prompt_${projectId}`);
@@ -303,10 +310,12 @@ export function Copilot({
 }) {
     const [copilotKey, setCopilotKey] = useState(0);
     const [showCopySuccess, setShowCopySuccess] = useState(false);
+    const [messages, setMessages] = useState<z.infer<typeof CopilotMessage>[]>([]);
     const appRef = useRef<{ handleCopyChat: () => void }>(null);
 
     function handleNewChat() {
         setCopilotKey(prev => prev + 1);
+        setMessages([]);
     }
 
     function handleCopyJson(data: { messages: any[], lastRequest: any, lastResponse: any }) {
@@ -320,6 +329,7 @@ export function Copilot({
 
     return (
         <Panel variant="copilot"
+            showWelcome={messages.length === 0}
             title={
                 <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
                     <div className="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100">
@@ -364,6 +374,7 @@ export function Copilot({
                     dispatch={dispatch}
                     chatContext={chatContext}
                     onCopyJson={handleCopyJson}
+                    onMessagesChange={setMessages}
                 />
             </div>
         </Panel>
diff --git a/apps/rowboat/components/common/panel-common.tsx b/apps/rowboat/components/common/panel-common.tsx
index 441ea179..40fef2c2 100644
--- a/apps/rowboat/components/common/panel-common.tsx
+++ b/apps/rowboat/components/common/panel-common.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import clsx from "clsx";
+import { Sparkles } from "lucide-react";
 
 export function ActionButton({
     icon = null,
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ interface PanelProps {
     children: React.ReactNode;
     maxHeight?: string;
     variant?: 'default' | 'copilot' | 'projects';
+    showWelcome?: boolean;
 }
 
 export function Panel({
@@ -43,17 +45,31 @@ export function Panel({
     children,
     maxHeight,
     variant = 'default',
+    showWelcome = true,
 }: PanelProps) {
     return <div className={clsx(
-        "flex flex-col overflow-hidden rounded-xl border",
+        "flex flex-col overflow-hidden rounded-xl border relative",
         "border-zinc-200 dark:border-zinc-800",
         "bg-white dark:bg-zinc-900",
         maxHeight ? "max-h-[var(--panel-height)]" : "h-full"
     )}
-    style={{ '--panel-height': maxHeight } as React.CSSProperties}
+    style={{ 
+        '--panel-height': maxHeight
+    } as React.CSSProperties}
     >
+        {variant === 'copilot' && showWelcome && (
+            <div className="absolute inset-0 flex flex-col items-center justify-center pointer-events-none -mt-16">
+                <Sparkles className="w-32 h-32 text-blue-400/40 dark:text-blue-500/25 animate-sparkle" />
+                <div className="relative mt-8 max-w-full px-8">
+                    <div className="font-mono text-sm whitespace-nowrap text-blue-400/60 dark:text-blue-500/40 font-small inline-flex">
+                        <div className="overflow-hidden w-0 animate-typing">What can I help you build?</div>
+                        <div className="border-r-2 border-blue-400 dark:border-blue-500 animate-cursor">&nbsp;</div>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        )}
         <div className={clsx(
-            "shrink-0 border-b border-zinc-100 dark:border-zinc-800",
+            "shrink-0 border-b border-zinc-100 dark:border-zinc-800 relative",
             variant === 'projects' ? "flex flex-col gap-3 px-4 py-3" : "flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-3"
         )}>
             {variant === 'projects' ? (
diff --git a/apps/rowboat/tailwind.config.ts b/apps/rowboat/tailwind.config.ts
index 719ce1c3..3340b862 100644
--- a/apps/rowboat/tailwind.config.ts
+++ b/apps/rowboat/tailwind.config.ts
@@ -19,11 +19,33 @@ const config: Config = {
         'pulse-subtle': {
           '0%, 100%': { opacity: '1' },
           '50%': { opacity: '0.85' }
+        },
+        gradient: {
+          '0%': { backgroundPosition: '0% 50%' },
+          '50%': { backgroundPosition: '100% 50%' },
+          '100%': { backgroundPosition: '0% 50%' }
+        },
+        'sparkle-fade': {
+          '0%': { opacity: '0.2', transform: 'scale(0.9)' },
+          '50%': { opacity: '0.5', transform: 'scale(1.1)' },
+          '100%': { opacity: '0.2', transform: 'scale(0.9)' }
+        },
+        typing: {
+          '0%, 5%': { width: '0%' },
+          '45%, 55%': { width: '100%' },
+          '95%, 100%': { width: '0%' }
+        },
+        blink: {
+          '50%': { borderColor: 'transparent' }
         }
       },
       animation: {
         shine: 'shine 2s infinite',
-        'pulse-subtle': 'pulse-subtle 2s infinite'
+        'pulse-subtle': 'pulse-subtle 2s infinite',
+        'gradient': 'gradient var(--gradient-animation-duration, 15s) ease infinite',
+        'sparkle': 'sparkle-fade 4s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) infinite',
+        'typing': 'typing 8s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) infinite',
+        'cursor': 'blink .75s step-end infinite'
       },
   		backgroundImage: {
   			'gradient-radial': 'radial-gradient(var(--tw-gradient-stops))',