diff --git a/buzz/api/teams/__init__.py b/buzz/api/teams/__init__.py
index 7bc2885c..7f31d627 100644
--- a/buzz/api/teams/__init__.py
+++ b/buzz/api/teams/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import frappe
+from frappe.rate_limiter import rate_limit
 
 from buzz.api.teams import invitations, services
 from buzz.api.teams.schemas import InviteOutcome, TeamOption, TeamOverview
@@ -39,3 +40,11 @@ def remove_member(team: str, user: str) -> None:
 @frappe.whitelist(methods=["POST"])
 def invite_members(team: str, invites: list[dict]) -> list[InviteOutcome]:
 	return invitations.invite_members(team, invites)
+
+
+# Rate limited by IP: the limiter buckets on `frappe.form_dict.cmd`, which only the
+# /api/method path sets, so this endpoint is called from there rather than over v2.
+@frappe.whitelist(methods=["POST"])
+@rate_limit(limit=5, seconds=60 * 60)
+def create_team(team_name: str, logo: str | None = None) -> TeamOption:
+	return services.create_team(team_name, logo)
diff --git a/buzz/api/teams/services.py b/buzz/api/teams/services.py
index c30df12f..8518def8 100644
--- a/buzz/api/teams/services.py
+++ b/buzz/api/teams/services.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from frappe.query_builder import Case
 
 from buzz.api.teams.exceptions import CannotManageMembers, NotATeamMember
-from buzz.api.teams.schemas import TeamInvite, TeamMember, TeamOverview
+from buzz.api.teams.schemas import TeamInvite, TeamMember, TeamOption, TeamOverview
 from buzz.permissions import can_manage_members, team_role_of
 
 TEAM_FIELDS = ("name", "team_name", "slug", "logo")
@@ -86,3 +86,16 @@ def remove_member(team: str, user: str) -> None:
 	# Event Manager holds no write permission on the membership doctype, so the guard above
 	# is the authorization — the same shape as the Desk add-members flow.
 	membership.save(ignore_permissions=True)
+
+
+def create_team(team_name: str, logo: str | None = None) -> TeamOption:
+	"""Start a team with the session user as its Owner.
+
+	Inserted past permissions like the reads above: Buzz Team's create right belongs to
+	System Manager, while any signed-in user may start a team of their own. The controller
+	derives the slug and lays down the Owner membership and the team settings.
+	"""
+	team = frappe.get_doc({"doctype": "Buzz Team", "team_name": team_name, "logo": logo})
+	team.insert(ignore_permissions=True)
+
+	return TeamOption(name=team.name, team_name=team.team_name, logo=team.logo, team_role="Owner")
diff --git a/buzz/api/teams/test_teams.py b/buzz/api/teams/test_teams.py
index 72c75f8a..b619a90d 100644
--- a/buzz/api/teams/test_teams.py
+++ b/buzz/api/teams/test_teams.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import frappe
 from frappe.tests import IntegrationTestCase
 
-from buzz.api.teams import get_my_teams, get_team_overview, remove_member
+from buzz.api.teams import create_team, get_my_teams, get_team_overview, remove_member
 from buzz.api.teams.exceptions import CannotManageMembers, NotATeamMember
 from buzz.events.doctype.buzz_team.test_buzz_team import create_owned_team, create_user
 from buzz.events.doctype.buzz_team_membership.buzz_team_membership import upsert_membership
@@ -212,3 +212,51 @@ def test_the_desk_role_survives_while_another_team_still_earns_it(self):
 
 		remove_member(second, member)
 		self.assertNotIn("Event Manager", frappe.get_roles(member))
+
+
+class TestCreateTeam(IntegrationTestCase):
+	def setUp(self):
+		frappe.set_user("Administrator")
+		self.addCleanup(frappe.set_user, "Administrator")
+
+	def test_makes_the_creator_the_owner(self):
+		user = create_user("create-team-owner@example.com", "Founder")
+
+		frappe.set_user(user)
+		option = create_team("Create Team Owned")
+
+		self.assertEqual(option.team_name, "Create Team Owned")
+		self.assertEqual(option.team_role, "Owner")
+		self.assertTrue(
+			frappe.db.exists(
+				"Buzz Team Membership",
+				{"team": option.name, "user": user, "team_role": "Owner", "enabled": 1},
+			)
+		)
+		self.assertTrue(frappe.db.exists("Buzz Team Settings", {"team": option.name}))
+
+	def test_appears_in_the_creators_teams(self):
+		user = create_user("create-team-switcher@example.com", "Founder")
+
+		frappe.set_user(user)
+		option = create_team("Create Team Switcher")
+
+		self.assertIn(option.name, [team.name for team in get_my_teams()])
+
+	def test_a_repeated_name_gets_a_team_of_its_own(self):
+		user = create_user("create-team-twice@example.com", "Founder")
+
+		frappe.set_user(user)
+		first = create_team("Create Team Twice")
+		second = create_team("Create Team Twice")
+
+		self.assertNotEqual(first.name, second.name)
+		slugs = frappe.get_all("Buzz Team", filters={"name": ["in", [first.name, second.name]]}, pluck="slug")
+		self.assertEqual(len(set(slugs)), 2)
+
+	def test_refuses_a_nameless_team(self):
+		user = create_user("create-team-nameless@example.com", "Founder")
+
+		frappe.set_user(user)
+		with self.assertRaises(frappe.MandatoryError):
+			create_team("")
diff --git a/dashboard/components.d.ts b/dashboard/components.d.ts
index 913c2b24..3d146748 100644
--- a/dashboard/components.d.ts
+++ b/dashboard/components.d.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ declare module 'vue' {
     BuzzLogo: typeof import('./src/components/common/BuzzLogo.vue')['default']
     CancellationRequestDialog: typeof import('./src/components/CancellationRequestDialog.vue')['default']
     CancellationRequestNotice: typeof import('./src/components/CancellationRequestNotice.vue')['default']
+    CreateTeamDialog: typeof import('./src/components/dashboard/teams/CreateTeamDialog.vue')['default']
     CustomFieldInput: typeof import('./src/components/CustomFieldInput.vue')['default']
     CustomFieldsSection: typeof import('./src/components/CustomFieldsSection.vue')['default']
     EventBanner: typeof import('./src/components/dashboard/events/EventBanner.vue')['default']
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ declare module 'vue' {
     FormFieldSections: typeof import('./src/components/FormFieldSections.vue')['default']
     GuestRegistrationDialog: typeof import('./src/components/dashboard/events/GuestRegistrationDialog.vue')['default']
     LanguageSwitcher: typeof import('./src/components/LanguageSwitcher.vue')['default']
+    LoadingPanel: typeof import('./src/components/common/LoadingPanel.vue')['default']
     LoginDialog: typeof import('./src/components/LoginDialog.vue')['default']
     LoginRequired: typeof import('./src/components/LoginRequired.vue')['default']
     Navbar: typeof import('./src/components/Navbar.vue')['default']
diff --git a/dashboard/src/components/TeamSwitcher.vue b/dashboard/src/components/TeamSwitcher.vue
index 91c02b98..05cd752b 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/components/TeamSwitcher.vue
+++ b/dashboard/src/components/TeamSwitcher.vue
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import CreateTeamDialog from "@/components/dashboard/teams/CreateTeamDialog.vue";
 import { currentTeam, selectTeam, teams } from "@/data/teams";
 import type { TeamOption } from "@/types";
 import { Avatar, Badge, KeyboardShortcut, Popover } from "frappe-ui";
 import { computed, ref } from "vue";
 
 const query = ref("");
+const showCreateDialog = ref(false);
 
 const matchingTeams = computed(() =>
 	teams.value.filter((team) =>
@@ -16,6 +18,12 @@ function switchTeam(team: TeamOption, closePanel: () => void) {
 	selectTeam(team.name);
 	closePanel();
 }
+
+// The popover has to go first: it traps focus, which the dialog then cannot take.
+function openCreateDialog(closePanel: () => void) {
+	closePanel();
+	showCreateDialog.value = true;
+}
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -89,6 +97,7 @@ function switchTeam(team: TeamOption, closePanel: () => void) {
 
 				<button
 					class="flex w-full items-center gap-3 border-t px-3 py-2.5 text-left transition-colors duration-150 hover:bg-surface-gray-2 active:bg-surface-gray-3 focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-outline-gray-3"
+					@click="openCreateDialog(close)"
 				>
 					<span class="lucide-plus size-4 shrink-0 text-ink-gray-6" />
 					<div class="min-w-0">
@@ -101,4 +110,6 @@ function switchTeam(team: TeamOption, closePanel: () => void) {
 			</div>
 		</template>
 	</Popover>
+
+	<CreateTeamDialog v-model="showCreateDialog" />
 </template>
diff --git a/dashboard/src/components/common/LoadingPanel.vue b/dashboard/src/components/common/LoadingPanel.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cc7e872f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dashboard/src/components/common/LoadingPanel.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import BuzzLogo from "@/components/common/BuzzLogo.vue";
+
+withDefaults(defineProps<{ text?: string }>(), { text: "Loading" });
+</script>
+
+<template>
+	<div class="flex h-full min-h-64 flex-col items-center justify-center gap-4">
+		<div class="relative">
+			<!-- The copy behind carries the ping, so the logo itself stays readable. -->
+			<BuzzLogo
+				aria-hidden="true"
+				class="absolute inset-0 w-9 h-7 animate-ping text-ink-gray-3 motion-reduce:hidden"
+			/>
+			<BuzzLogo class="relative w-9 h-7 text-ink-gray-4" />
+		</div>
+		<p class="text-sm text-ink-gray-5">{{ text }}</p>
+	</div>
+</template>
diff --git a/dashboard/src/components/dashboard/teams/CreateTeamDialog.vue b/dashboard/src/components/dashboard/teams/CreateTeamDialog.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..33b31a37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dashboard/src/components/dashboard/teams/CreateTeamDialog.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { createAndSelectTeam, createTeam } from "@/data/teams";
+import type { FrappeError } from "@/types";
+import { Avatar, Button, Dialog, ErrorMessage, FileUploader, toast } from "frappe-ui";
+import { computed, ref, watch } from "vue";
+import { useRouter } from "vue-router";
+
+const IMAGE_TYPES = ["image/png", "image/jpeg", "image/webp", "image/svg+xml"];
+
+const router = useRouter();
+
+const isOpen = defineModel<boolean>({ required: true });
+
+const teamName = ref("");
+const logo = ref("");
+const showErrors = ref(false);
+
+// createResource types its error as {}, so the message needs narrowing.
+const errorMessage = computed(() => (createTeam.error as FrappeError | null)?.message);
+
+watch(isOpen, (open) => {
+	if (!open) return;
+	teamName.value = "";
+	logo.value = "";
+	showErrors.value = false;
+	createTeam.error = null;
+});
+
+// The slug and the Owner membership come from the server, so a name is the whole form.
+const invalid = computed(() => !teamName.value.trim());
+
+async function submit() {
+	showErrors.value = true;
+	if (invalid.value) return;
+
+	const team = await createAndSelectTeam({
+		team_name: teamName.value.trim(),
+		logo: logo.value || null,
+	});
+	if (!team) return;
+
+	toast.success(`${team.team_name} created`);
+	isOpen.value = false;
+	// The new team is already the selected one, so the overview opens on it.
+	router.push({ name: "team-overview" });
+}
+</script>
+
+<template>
+	<Dialog v-model="isOpen">
+		<template #body-title>
+			<div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+				<span class="lucide-users-round size-5 text-ink-gray-7" />
+				<h3 class="text-2xl font-semibold text-ink-gray-9">Create team</h3>
+			</div>
+		</template>
+
+		<template #body-content>
+			<form novalidate class="flex flex-col items-center gap-4" @submit.prevent="submit">
+				<FileUploader
+					:file-types="IMAGE_TYPES"
+					@success="(file: { file_url: string }) => (logo = file.file_url)"
+				>
+					<template #default="{ openFileSelector, uploading, error: uploadError }">
+						<div class="flex flex-col items-center gap-1">
+							<!-- The overlay is the control; the avatar under it is only the preview. -->
+							<button
+								type="button"
+								class="group relative rounded-xl focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-outline-gray-3"
+								:aria-label="logo ? 'Change logo' : 'Add logo'"
+								@click="openFileSelector"
+							>
+								<!-- Avatar sizes itself from the utility class rather than its size enum,
+									 which tops out well below a preview worth looking at. -->
+								<Avatar
+									:image="logo || undefined"
+									shape="square"
+									class="size-24 rounded-xl"
+								/>
+								<!-- Empty, the icon is the whole placeholder; over an uploaded logo it
+									 needs the backdrop to stay legible. -->
+								<span
+									class="absolute inset-0 grid place-items-center rounded-xl transition duration-150"
+									:class="[
+										logo
+											? 'bg-black/50 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-visible:opacity-100'
+											: 'group-hover:bg-black/50',
+										uploading && 'opacity-100',
+									]"
+								>
+									<span
+										class="size-6"
+										:class="[
+											uploading
+												? 'lucide-loader-circle animate-spin'
+												: 'lucide-camera',
+											logo
+												? 'text-white'
+												: 'text-ink-gray-4 group-hover:text-white',
+										]"
+									/>
+								</span>
+							</button>
+							<ErrorMessage v-if="uploadError" :message="String(uploadError)" />
+						</div>
+					</template>
+				</FileUploader>
+
+				<!-- Unadorned on purpose: the name reads as the team's title, not as a form field. -->
+				<input
+					v-model="teamName"
+					aria-label="Team name"
+					placeholder="Team name"
+					autocomplete="off"
+					class="w-full bg-transparent text-center text-lg font-medium text-ink-gray-9 placeholder-ink-gray-4 focus:outline-none"
+				/>
+
+				<p v-if="showErrors && invalid" class="text-sm text-ink-red-4">
+					A team needs a name.
+				</p>
+				<ErrorMessage v-else :message="errorMessage" />
+
+				<!-- type=button: inside a form, a submit button would run `submit` twice —
+					 once on click, once on the form's own submit — and the second insert
+					 creates a second team. -->
+				<Button
+					type="button"
+					variant="solid"
+					label="Create"
+					class="w-full"
+					:loading="createTeam.loading"
+					@click="submit"
+				/>
+			</form>
+		</template>
+	</Dialog>
+</template>
diff --git a/dashboard/src/data/teams.ts b/dashboard/src/data/teams.ts
index 70560d3e..401cf6db 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/data/teams.ts
+++ b/dashboard/src/data/teams.ts
@@ -51,10 +51,26 @@ const teamOverview = useCall<TeamOverview, { team: string }>({
  * first fetch, so `loading` is true before the page paints.
  */
 export function useTeamOverview() {
-	watch(currentTeam, (team) => team && teamOverview.reload(), { immediate: true })
+	// Watched by name rather than by the object: every refresh of the teams list builds
+	// fresh TeamOption objects, so watching `currentTeam` itself re-fired on the same team
+	// and the second request aborted the first one mid-flight.
+	watch(selectedTeamName, (team) => team && teamOverview.reload(), { immediate: true })
 	return teamOverview
 }
 
+/**
+ * The overview's error, minus the ones no one should see.
+ *
+ * A superseded request is aborted, and the rejection lands in `error` after the newer
+ * request has already succeeded — "signal is aborted without reason" over a page whose
+ * data is sitting right there.
+ */
+export const teamOverviewError = computed(() =>
+	teamOverview.error && teamOverview.error.name !== "AbortError"
+		? teamOverview.error.message
+		: ""
+)
+
 export const removeMember = createResource({
 	url: "buzz.api.teams.remove_member",
 })
@@ -63,6 +79,32 @@ export const inviteMembers = createResource<InviteOutcome[]>({
 	url: "buzz.api.teams.invite_members",
 })
 
+// The endpoint is rate limited, and the limiter buckets on `cmd`, which only the
+// /api/method path sets — hence createResource here rather than a v2 useCall.
+export const createTeam = createResource<TeamOption>({
+	url: "buzz.api.teams.create_team",
+})
+
+/**
+ * Create a team and switch to it. Resolves once it is the selected team.
+ *
+ * The selection happens here rather than in an `onSuccess`, which createResource does
+ * not await: the caller would navigate first, the team page would load the old team,
+ * and the switch that followed would abort that request mid-flight — leaving "signal is
+ * aborted without reason" on a page whose data had already arrived.
+ */
+export async function createAndSelectTeam(params: {
+	team_name: string
+	logo: string | null
+}): Promise<TeamOption | null> {
+	const team = (await createTeam.submit(params)) as TeamOption | null
+	if (createTeam.error || !team) return null
+
+	await teamsResource.reload()
+	selectTeam(team.name)
+	return team
+}
+
 export function selectTeam(name: string) {
 	selectedTeamName.value = name
 	localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, name)
diff --git a/dashboard/src/layouts/ManagerLayout.vue b/dashboard/src/layouts/ManagerLayout.vue
index 5a8aab69..f972889f 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/layouts/ManagerLayout.vue
+++ b/dashboard/src/layouts/ManagerLayout.vue
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import LoadingPanel from "@/components/common/LoadingPanel.vue";
 import TeamSwitcher from "@/components/TeamSwitcher.vue";
 import UserMenu from "@/components/UserMenu.vue";
 import { useTeamAccess } from "@/composables/useTeamAccess";
@@ -70,8 +71,9 @@ const eventItems = computed(() => [
 <template>
 	<NotFound v-if="access === 'denied'" />
 
-	<!-- scroll=false: the rounded panel below owns its own scroll. -->
-	<DesktopShell v-else-if="access === 'granted'" :scroll="false">
+	<!-- scroll=false: the rounded panel below owns its own scroll. The shell renders while
+		 the teams are still loading so the panel, not the whole window, holds the wait. -->
+	<DesktopShell v-else :scroll="false">
 		<template #sidebar>
 			<Sidebar v-model:collapsed="collapsed">
 				<div class="flex h-12 shrink-0 items-center px-1">
@@ -122,7 +124,8 @@ const eventItems = computed(() => [
 			>
 				<PageHeaderTarget />
 				<div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
-					<router-view />
+					<LoadingPanel v-if="access === 'pending'" />
+					<router-view v-else />
 				</div>
 			</div>
 		</div>
diff --git a/dashboard/src/pages/manage/teams/TeamMembers.vue b/dashboard/src/pages/manage/teams/TeamMembers.vue
index 0b016851..b9007795 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/pages/manage/teams/TeamMembers.vue
+++ b/dashboard/src/pages/manage/teams/TeamMembers.vue
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import AddMembersDialog from "@/components/dashboard/teams/AddMembersDialog.vue";
 import TeamPageHeader from "@/components/dashboard/teams/TeamPageHeader.vue";
 import { session } from "@/data/session";
-import { currentTeam, removeMember, useTeamOverview } from "@/data/teams";
+import { currentTeam, removeMember, teamOverviewError, useTeamOverview } from "@/data/teams";
 import type { TeamInvite, TeamMember } from "@/types";
 import { Avatar, Button, Dropdown, ErrorMessage, LoadingText, dialog, toast } from "frappe-ui";
 import { computed, ref } from "vue";
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ const teamOverview = useTeamOverview();
 
 const team = computed(() => teamOverview.data);
 
-const errorMessage = computed(() => teamOverview.error?.message);
-
 const canManage = computed(() => MANAGING_ROLES.includes(team.value?.my_role ?? ""));
 
 // Members and pending invitations share one list so the table reads as the whole team,
@@ -108,7 +106,7 @@ function confirmRemove(row: Row) {
 	<div class="m-auto max-w-[900px] w-full py-8 px-4 space-y-6">
 		<LoadingText v-if="teamOverview.loading" text="Loading members…" />
 
-		<ErrorMessage v-else-if="errorMessage" :message="errorMessage" />
+		<ErrorMessage v-else-if="teamOverviewError" :message="teamOverviewError" />
 
 		<template v-else-if="team">
 			<header class="space-y-1">
diff --git a/dashboard/src/pages/manage/teams/TeamOverview.vue b/dashboard/src/pages/manage/teams/TeamOverview.vue
index c01a14a4..e2136375 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/pages/manage/teams/TeamOverview.vue
+++ b/dashboard/src/pages/manage/teams/TeamOverview.vue
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import LoadingPanel from "@/components/common/LoadingPanel.vue";
 import EventCard from "@/components/dashboard/events/EventCard.vue";
 import TeamHero from "@/components/dashboard/teams/TeamHero.vue";
 import TeamPageHeader from "@/components/dashboard/teams/TeamPageHeader.vue";
 import { useMyEvents } from "@/data/events";
-import { currentTeam, useTeamOverview } from "@/data/teams";
-import { Avatar, Button, ErrorMessage, LoadingText } from "frappe-ui";
+import { currentTeam, teamOverviewError, useTeamOverview } from "@/data/teams";
+import { Avatar, Button, ErrorMessage } from "frappe-ui";
 import { computed } from "vue";
 
 const PREVIEW_LIMIT = 3;
@@ -14,8 +15,6 @@ const teamOverview = useTeamOverview();
 
 const team = computed(() => teamOverview.data);
 
-const errorMessage = computed(() => teamOverview.error?.message);
-
 const myEvents = useMyEvents();
 
 // Reuses the feed the Events page already loads; only this team's rows are shown.
@@ -37,9 +36,9 @@ const hiddenMemberCount = computed(() =>
 	<TeamPageHeader title="Overview" />
 
 	<div class="m-auto max-w-[1000px] w-full py-8 px-4 space-y-8">
-		<LoadingText v-if="teamOverview.loading" text="Loading team…" />
+		<LoadingPanel v-if="teamOverview.loading" />
 
-		<ErrorMessage v-else-if="errorMessage" :message="errorMessage" />
+		<ErrorMessage v-else-if="teamOverviewError" :message="teamOverviewError" />
 
 		<template v-else-if="team">
 			<TeamHero :team="team" />