diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 8e48bea..d4143bf 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 DISCORD_TOKEN=your_discord_bot_token_here
 CHANNEL_ID=your_channel_id_here,optional_second_channel_id
 STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT=
+STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT_CHANNEL_ID=
 
 # Bot Configuration
 COMMAND_PREFIX=!
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4d0ab81..73f1b69 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ Environment variables in `.env`:
 | `DISCORD_TOKEN` | Your Discord bot token | Required |
 | `CHANNEL_ID` | Discord channel ID(s) for updates (comma-separated for multiple) | Required |
 | `STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT` | Optional message to send when bot starts (empty = no announcement) | `""` |
+| `STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT_CHANNEL_ID` | Channel ID for startup announcements (defaults to first CHANNEL_ID) | `""` |
 | `COMMAND_PREFIX` | Command prefix for bot | `!` |
 | `PRIMARY_TICKER` | Stock ticker for hourly updates | `PYPL` |
 | `UPDATE_INTERVAL_HOURS` | Hours between updates | `1` |
@@ -173,7 +174,9 @@ CHANNEL_ID=1442203998932304035,9876543210123456789
 **Startup Announcements:** Send a one-time message when the bot starts (useful for announcing updates):
 ```
 STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT=Bot updated with new features: colored price changes and FinViz charts!
+STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT_CHANNEL_ID=1234567890123456789
 ```
+If `STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT_CHANNEL_ID` is not set, announcements are sent to the first channel in `CHANNEL_ID`.
 
 ## Switching Stock API Providers
 
diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index 3854c00..51847a1 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ class StockBot(commands.Bot):
             await self.send_stock_update(self.primary_ticker, channel_id)
 
     async def send_startup_announcement(self):
-        """Send startup announcement to configured channels."""
+        """Send startup announcement to configured announcement channel."""
         embed = discord.Embed(
             title="🤖 Bot Update",
             description=Config.STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT,
@@ -112,13 +112,27 @@ class StockBot(commands.Bot):
             timestamp=datetime.now(pytz.timezone('America/New_York'))
         )
 
-        for channel_id in self.target_channel_ids:
-            channel = self.get_channel(channel_id)
-            if channel:
-                await channel.send(embed=embed)
-                logger.info(f"Sent startup announcement to channel {channel_id}")
-            else:
-                logger.error(f"Could not send announcement to channel {channel_id}")
+        # Use dedicated announcement channel if configured, otherwise use first target channel
+        announcement_channel_id = Config.STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT_CHANNEL_ID
+        if announcement_channel_id:
+            try:
+                channel_id = int(announcement_channel_id)
+            except ValueError:
+                logger.error(f"Invalid STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT_CHANNEL_ID: {announcement_channel_id}")
+                return
+        else:
+            channel_id = self.target_channel_ids[0] if self.target_channel_ids else None
+
+        if not channel_id:
+            logger.error("No channel configured for startup announcement")
+            return
+
+        channel = self.get_channel(channel_id)
+        if channel:
+            await channel.send(embed=embed)
+            logger.info(f"Sent startup announcement to channel {channel_id}")
+        else:
+            logger.error(f"Could not find announcement channel {channel_id}")
 
     async def send_stock_update(self, ticker: str, channel_id: int):
         """
diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 37e7400..f9107f8 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class Config:
     CHANNEL_IDS = [id.strip() for id in os.getenv('CHANNEL_ID', '').split(',') if id.strip()]
     COMMAND_PREFIX = os.getenv('COMMAND_PREFIX', '!')
     STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT = os.getenv('STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT', '')
+    STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT_CHANNEL_ID = os.getenv('STARTUP_ANNOUNCEMENT_CHANNEL_ID', '')
 
     # Stock configuration
     PRIMARY_TICKER = os.getenv('PRIMARY_TICKER', 'PYPL')