diff --git a/src/server.ts b/src/server.ts
index d55b76e..e0b5139 100644
--- a/src/server.ts
+++ b/src/server.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /// <reference types="bun-types" />
 import { CommandService } from './services/command';
+import { GroupSyncService } from './services/group-sync';
 import { ResponseQueue } from './services/response-queue';
 import { WebhookManager } from './services/webhook-manager';
 
@@ -216,6 +217,9 @@ export class WebhookServer {
 						process.exit(1);
 					}
 				}
+
+				// Initialize groups - critical for operation
+				await GroupSyncService.checkInitialGroups();
 			} catch (error) {
 				console.error('❌ Failed to setup webhook:', error instanceof Error ? error.message : error);
 				process.exit(1);
diff --git a/src/services/group-sync.ts b/src/services/group-sync.ts
index 418c3e2..4f2af8e 100644
--- a/src/services/group-sync.ts
+++ b/src/services/group-sync.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ import { db } from '../db';
 // Environment variables will be mocked in tests
 const env = process.env;
 
+// In-memory cache for active groups
+const activeGroupsCache = new Map<string, string>(); // groupId -> groupName
+
 type EvolutionGroup = {
   id: string;
   subject: string;
@@ -92,6 +95,43 @@ export class GroupSyncService {
     return data.response;
   }
 
+  private static cacheActiveGroups(): void {
+    const groups = db.prepare('SELECT id, name FROM groups WHERE active = TRUE').all();
+    activeGroupsCache.clear();
+    for (const group of groups) {
+      activeGroupsCache.set(group.id, group.name);
+    }
+    console.log(`Cached ${activeGroupsCache.size} active groups`);
+  }
+
+  private static getActiveGroupsCount(): number {
+    const result = db.prepare('SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM groups WHERE active = TRUE').get();
+    return result?.count || 0;
+  }
+
+  static async checkInitialGroups(): Promise<void> {
+    const count = this.getActiveGroupsCount();
+    if (count > 0) {
+      this.cacheActiveGroups();
+      console.log(`✅ Using ${count} existing groups from database`);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    console.log('⚠️ No groups found in database - performing initial sync');
+    try {
+      const { added } = await this.syncGroups();
+      if (added === 0) {
+        throw new Error('Initial group sync completed but no groups were added');
+      }
+      this.cacheActiveGroups();
+      console.log(`✅ Initial group sync completed - added ${added} groups`);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('❌ Critical: Initial group sync failed - no groups available');
+      console.error(error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error');
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+  }
+
   private static async upsertGroups(groups: EvolutionGroup[]): Promise<{ added: number; updated: number }> {
     let added = 0;
     let updated = 0;