diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a63f7ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+.assets
+.env
+*.pyc
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nanobot/agent/context.py b/nanobot/agent/context.py
index 5383c35..aaba890 100644
--- a/nanobot/agent/context.py
+++ b/nanobot/agent/context.py
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ You are nanobot, a helpful AI assistant. You have access to tools that allow you
 - Execute shell commands
 - Search the web and fetch web pages
 - Send messages to users on chat channels
+- Spawn subagents for complex background tasks
 
 ## Current Time
 {now}
@@ -184,10 +185,7 @@ When remembering something, write to {workspace_path}/memory/MEMORY.md"""
         Returns:
             Updated message list.
         """
-        msg: dict[str, Any] = {"role": "assistant"}
-        
-        if content:
-            msg["content"] = content
+        msg: dict[str, Any] = {"role": "assistant", "content": content or ""}
         
         if tool_calls:
             msg["tool_calls"] = tool_calls
diff --git a/nanobot/agent/loop.py b/nanobot/agent/loop.py
index 4ad76a6..6fe2cfd 100644
--- a/nanobot/agent/loop.py
+++ b/nanobot/agent/loop.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ from nanobot.agent.tools.filesystem import ReadFileTool, WriteFileTool, EditFile
 from nanobot.agent.tools.shell import ExecTool
 from nanobot.agent.tools.web import WebSearchTool, WebFetchTool
 from nanobot.agent.tools.message import MessageTool
+from nanobot.agent.tools.spawn import SpawnTool
+from nanobot.agent.subagent import SubagentManager
 from nanobot.session.manager import SessionManager
 
 
@@ -50,6 +52,13 @@ class AgentLoop:
         self.context = ContextBuilder(workspace)
         self.sessions = SessionManager(workspace)
         self.tools = ToolRegistry()
+        self.subagents = SubagentManager(
+            provider=provider,
+            workspace=workspace,
+            bus=bus,
+            model=self.model,
+            brave_api_key=brave_api_key,
+        )
         
         self._running = False
         self._register_default_tools()
@@ -72,6 +81,10 @@ class AgentLoop:
         # Message tool
         message_tool = MessageTool(send_callback=self.bus.publish_outbound)
         self.tools.register(message_tool)
+        
+        # Spawn tool (for subagents)
+        spawn_tool = SpawnTool(manager=self.subagents)
+        self.tools.register(spawn_tool)
     
     async def run(self) -> None:
         """Run the agent loop, processing messages from the bus."""
@@ -117,16 +130,25 @@ class AgentLoop:
         Returns:
             The response message, or None if no response needed.
         """
+        # Handle system messages (subagent announces)
+        # The chat_id contains the original "channel:chat_id" to route back to
+        if msg.channel == "system":
+            return await self._process_system_message(msg)
+        
         logger.info(f"Processing message from {msg.channel}:{msg.sender_id}")
         
         # Get or create session
         session = self.sessions.get_or_create(msg.session_key)
         
-        # Update message tool context
+        # Update tool contexts
         message_tool = self.tools.get("message")
         if isinstance(message_tool, MessageTool):
             message_tool.set_context(msg.channel, msg.chat_id)
         
+        spawn_tool = self.tools.get("spawn")
+        if isinstance(spawn_tool, SpawnTool):
+            spawn_tool.set_context(msg.channel, msg.chat_id)
+        
         # Build initial messages (use get_history for LLM-formatted messages)
         messages = self.context.build_messages(
             history=session.get_history(),
@@ -191,6 +213,97 @@ class AgentLoop:
             content=final_content
         )
     
+    async def _process_system_message(self, msg: InboundMessage) -> OutboundMessage | None:
+        """
+        Process a system message (e.g., subagent announce).
+        
+        The chat_id field contains "original_channel:original_chat_id" to route
+        the response back to the correct destination.
+        """
+        logger.info(f"Processing system message from {msg.sender_id}")
+        
+        # Parse origin from chat_id (format: "channel:chat_id")
+        if ":" in msg.chat_id:
+            parts = msg.chat_id.split(":", 1)
+            origin_channel = parts[0]
+            origin_chat_id = parts[1]
+        else:
+            # Fallback
+            origin_channel = "cli"
+            origin_chat_id = msg.chat_id
+        
+        # Use the origin session for context
+        session_key = f"{origin_channel}:{origin_chat_id}"
+        session = self.sessions.get_or_create(session_key)
+        
+        # Update tool contexts
+        message_tool = self.tools.get("message")
+        if isinstance(message_tool, MessageTool):
+            message_tool.set_context(origin_channel, origin_chat_id)
+        
+        spawn_tool = self.tools.get("spawn")
+        if isinstance(spawn_tool, SpawnTool):
+            spawn_tool.set_context(origin_channel, origin_chat_id)
+        
+        # Build messages with the announce content
+        messages = self.context.build_messages(
+            history=session.get_history(),
+            current_message=msg.content
+        )
+        
+        # Agent loop (limited for announce handling)
+        iteration = 0
+        final_content = None
+        
+        while iteration < self.max_iterations:
+            iteration += 1
+            
+            response = await self.provider.chat(
+                messages=messages,
+                tools=self.tools.get_definitions(),
+                model=self.model
+            )
+            
+            if response.has_tool_calls:
+                tool_call_dicts = [
+                    {
+                        "id": tc.id,
+                        "type": "function",
+                        "function": {
+                            "name": tc.name,
+                            "arguments": json.dumps(tc.arguments)
+                        }
+                    }
+                    for tc in response.tool_calls
+                ]
+                messages = self.context.add_assistant_message(
+                    messages, response.content, tool_call_dicts
+                )
+                
+                for tool_call in response.tool_calls:
+                    logger.debug(f"Executing tool: {tool_call.name}")
+                    result = await self.tools.execute(tool_call.name, tool_call.arguments)
+                    messages = self.context.add_tool_result(
+                        messages, tool_call.id, tool_call.name, result
+                    )
+            else:
+                final_content = response.content
+                break
+        
+        if final_content is None:
+            final_content = "Background task completed."
+        
+        # Save to session (mark as system message in history)
+        session.add_message("user", f"[System: {msg.sender_id}] {msg.content}")
+        session.add_message("assistant", final_content)
+        self.sessions.save(session)
+        
+        return OutboundMessage(
+            channel=origin_channel,
+            chat_id=origin_chat_id,
+            content=final_content
+        )
+    
     async def process_direct(self, content: str, session_key: str = "cli:direct") -> str:
         """
         Process a message directly (for CLI usage).
diff --git a/nanobot/agent/subagent.py b/nanobot/agent/subagent.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3b320c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nanobot/agent/subagent.py
@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+"""Subagent manager for background task execution."""
+
+import asyncio
+import json
+import uuid
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+from loguru import logger
+
+from nanobot.bus.events import InboundMessage
+from nanobot.bus.queue import MessageBus
+from nanobot.providers.base import LLMProvider
+from nanobot.agent.tools.registry import ToolRegistry
+from nanobot.agent.tools.filesystem import ReadFileTool, WriteFileTool, ListDirTool
+from nanobot.agent.tools.shell import ExecTool
+from nanobot.agent.tools.web import WebSearchTool, WebFetchTool
+
+
+class SubagentManager:
+    """
+    Manages background subagent execution.
+    
+    Subagents are lightweight agent instances that run in the background
+    to handle specific tasks. They share the same LLM provider but have
+    isolated context and a focused system prompt.
+    """
+    
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        provider: LLMProvider,
+        workspace: Path,
+        bus: MessageBus,
+        model: str | None = None,
+        brave_api_key: str | None = None,
+    ):
+        self.provider = provider
+        self.workspace = workspace
+        self.bus = bus
+        self.model = model or provider.get_default_model()
+        self.brave_api_key = brave_api_key
+        self._running_tasks: dict[str, asyncio.Task[None]] = {}
+    
+    async def spawn(
+        self,
+        task: str,
+        label: str | None = None,
+        origin_channel: str = "cli",
+        origin_chat_id: str = "direct",
+    ) -> str:
+        """
+        Spawn a subagent to execute a task in the background.
+        
+        Args:
+            task: The task description for the subagent.
+            label: Optional human-readable label for the task.
+            origin_channel: The channel to announce results to.
+            origin_chat_id: The chat ID to announce results to.
+        
+        Returns:
+            Status message indicating the subagent was started.
+        """
+        task_id = str(uuid.uuid4())[:8]
+        display_label = label or task[:30] + ("..." if len(task) > 30 else "")
+        
+        origin = {
+            "channel": origin_channel,
+            "chat_id": origin_chat_id,
+        }
+        
+        # Create background task
+        bg_task = asyncio.create_task(
+            self._run_subagent(task_id, task, display_label, origin)
+        )
+        self._running_tasks[task_id] = bg_task
+        
+        # Cleanup when done
+        bg_task.add_done_callback(lambda _: self._running_tasks.pop(task_id, None))
+        
+        logger.info(f"Spawned subagent [{task_id}]: {display_label}")
+        return f"Subagent [{display_label}] started (id: {task_id}). I'll notify you when it completes."
+    
+    async def _run_subagent(
+        self,
+        task_id: str,
+        task: str,
+        label: str,
+        origin: dict[str, str],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Execute the subagent task and announce the result."""
+        logger.info(f"Subagent [{task_id}] starting task: {label}")
+        
+        try:
+            # Build subagent tools (no message tool, no spawn tool)
+            tools = ToolRegistry()
+            tools.register(ReadFileTool())
+            tools.register(WriteFileTool())
+            tools.register(ListDirTool())
+            tools.register(ExecTool(working_dir=str(self.workspace)))
+            tools.register(WebSearchTool(api_key=self.brave_api_key))
+            tools.register(WebFetchTool())
+            
+            # Build messages with subagent-specific prompt
+            system_prompt = self._build_subagent_prompt(task)
+            messages: list[dict[str, Any]] = [
+                {"role": "system", "content": system_prompt},
+                {"role": "user", "content": task},
+            ]
+            
+            # Run agent loop (limited iterations)
+            max_iterations = 15
+            iteration = 0
+            final_result: str | None = None
+            
+            while iteration < max_iterations:
+                iteration += 1
+                
+                response = await self.provider.chat(
+                    messages=messages,
+                    tools=tools.get_definitions(),
+                    model=self.model,
+                )
+                
+                if response.has_tool_calls:
+                    # Add assistant message with tool calls
+                    tool_call_dicts = [
+                        {
+                            "id": tc.id,
+                            "type": "function",
+                            "function": {
+                                "name": tc.name,
+                                "arguments": json.dumps(tc.arguments),
+                            },
+                        }
+                        for tc in response.tool_calls
+                    ]
+                    messages.append({
+                        "role": "assistant",
+                        "content": response.content or "",
+                        "tool_calls": tool_call_dicts,
+                    })
+                    
+                    # Execute tools
+                    for tool_call in response.tool_calls:
+                        logger.debug(f"Subagent [{task_id}] executing: {tool_call.name}")
+                        result = await tools.execute(tool_call.name, tool_call.arguments)
+                        messages.append({
+                            "role": "tool",
+                            "tool_call_id": tool_call.id,
+                            "name": tool_call.name,
+                            "content": result,
+                        })
+                else:
+                    final_result = response.content
+                    break
+            
+            if final_result is None:
+                final_result = "Task completed but no final response was generated."
+            
+            logger.info(f"Subagent [{task_id}] completed successfully")
+            await self._announce_result(task_id, label, task, final_result, origin, "ok")
+            
+        except Exception as e:
+            error_msg = f"Error: {str(e)}"
+            logger.error(f"Subagent [{task_id}] failed: {e}")
+            await self._announce_result(task_id, label, task, error_msg, origin, "error")
+    
+    async def _announce_result(
+        self,
+        task_id: str,
+        label: str,
+        task: str,
+        result: str,
+        origin: dict[str, str],
+        status: str,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Announce the subagent result to the main agent via the message bus."""
+        status_text = "completed successfully" if status == "ok" else "failed"
+        
+        announce_content = f"""[Subagent '{label}' {status_text}]
+
+Task: {task}
+
+Result:
+{result}
+
+Summarize this naturally for the user. Keep it brief (1-2 sentences). Do not mention technical details like "subagent" or task IDs."""
+        
+        # Inject as system message to trigger main agent
+        msg = InboundMessage(
+            channel="system",
+            sender_id="subagent",
+            chat_id=f"{origin['channel']}:{origin['chat_id']}",
+            content=announce_content,
+        )
+        
+        await self.bus.publish_inbound(msg)
+        logger.debug(f"Subagent [{task_id}] announced result to {origin['channel']}:{origin['chat_id']}")
+    
+    def _build_subagent_prompt(self, task: str) -> str:
+        """Build a focused system prompt for the subagent."""
+        return f"""# Subagent
+
+You are a subagent spawned by the main agent to complete a specific task.
+
+## Your Task
+{task}
+
+## Rules
+1. Stay focused - complete only the assigned task, nothing else
+2. Your final response will be reported back to the main agent
+3. Do not initiate conversations or take on side tasks
+4. Be concise but informative in your findings
+
+## What You Can Do
+- Read and write files in the workspace
+- Execute shell commands
+- Search the web and fetch web pages
+- Complete the task thoroughly
+
+## What You Cannot Do
+- Send messages directly to users (no message tool available)
+- Spawn other subagents
+- Access the main agent's conversation history
+
+## Workspace
+Your workspace is at: {self.workspace}
+
+When you have completed the task, provide a clear summary of your findings or actions."""
+    
+    def get_running_count(self) -> int:
+        """Return the number of currently running subagents."""
+        return len(self._running_tasks)
diff --git a/nanobot/agent/tools/spawn.py b/nanobot/agent/tools/spawn.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5884a07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nanobot/agent/tools/spawn.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+"""Spawn tool for creating background subagents."""
+
+from typing import Any, TYPE_CHECKING
+
+from nanobot.agent.tools.base import Tool
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from nanobot.agent.subagent import SubagentManager
+
+
+class SpawnTool(Tool):
+    """
+    Tool to spawn a subagent for background task execution.
+    
+    The subagent runs asynchronously and announces its result back
+    to the main agent when complete.
+    """
+    
+    def __init__(self, manager: "SubagentManager"):
+        self._manager = manager
+        self._origin_channel = "cli"
+        self._origin_chat_id = "direct"
+    
+    def set_context(self, channel: str, chat_id: str) -> None:
+        """Set the origin context for subagent announcements."""
+        self._origin_channel = channel
+        self._origin_chat_id = chat_id
+    
+    @property
+    def name(self) -> str:
+        return "spawn"
+    
+    @property
+    def description(self) -> str:
+        return (
+            "Spawn a subagent to handle a task in the background. "
+            "Use this for complex or time-consuming tasks that can run independently. "
+            "The subagent will complete the task and report back when done."
+        )
+    
+    @property
+    def parameters(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+                "task": {
+                    "type": "string",
+                    "description": "The task for the subagent to complete",
+                },
+                "label": {
+                    "type": "string",
+                    "description": "Optional short label for the task (for display)",
+                },
+            },
+            "required": ["task"],
+        }
+    
+    async def execute(self, task: str, label: str | None = None, **kwargs: Any) -> str:
+        """Spawn a subagent to execute the given task."""
+        return await self._manager.spawn(
+            task=task,
+            label=label,
+            origin_channel=self._origin_channel,
+            origin_chat_id=self._origin_chat_id,
+        )