diff --git a/web/src/components/WelcomeModal.vue b/web/src/components/WelcomeModal.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd46f52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/components/WelcomeModal.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+<template>
+  <Teleport to="body">
+    <div v-if="visible" class="welcome-modal-overlay" @click.self="dismiss">
+      <div
+        class="welcome-modal"
+        role="dialog"
+        aria-modal="true"
+        aria-labelledby="welcome-modal-title"
+      >
+        <span aria-hidden="true" class="welcome-modal__icon">🦅</span>
+        <h2 id="welcome-modal-title" class="welcome-modal__heading">
+          Welcome to Peregrine
+        </h2>
+        <p class="welcome-modal__desc">
+          A live demo with realistic job search data. Explore freely — nothing you do here is saved.
+        </p>
+        <ul class="welcome-modal__features" aria-label="What to try">
+          <li>📋 Review &amp; rate matched jobs</li>
+          <li>✏ Draft a cover letter with AI</li>
+          <li>📅 Track your interview pipeline</li>
+          <li>🎉 See a hired outcome</li>
+        </ul>
+        <button class="welcome-modal__explore" @click="dismiss">
+          Explore the demo →
+        </button>
+        <div class="welcome-modal__links">
+          <a
+            href="https://circuitforge.tech/account"
+            class="welcome-modal__link welcome-modal__link--primary"
+            target="_blank"
+            rel="noopener"
+          >Get a free key</a>
+          <a
+            href="https://git.opensourcesolarpunk.com/Circuit-Forge/peregrine"
+            class="welcome-modal__link welcome-modal__link--secondary"
+            target="_blank"
+            rel="noopener"
+          >Self-host →</a>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </Teleport>
+</template>
+
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { ref } from 'vue'
+
+const LS_KEY = 'peregrine_demo_visited'
+
+const emit = defineEmits<{ dismissed: [] }>()
+
+const visible = ref(!localStorage.getItem(LS_KEY))
+
+function dismiss(): void {
+  localStorage.setItem(LS_KEY, '1')
+  visible.value = false
+  emit('dismissed')
+}
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.welcome-modal-overlay {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  z-index: 1000;
+  padding: var(--space-4, 16px);
+}
+
+.welcome-modal {
+  background: var(--color-surface-raised, #1e2d45);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border, #2a3a56);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-lg, 12px);
+  padding: var(--space-6, 24px);
+  width: 100%;
+  max-width: 360px;
+  box-shadow: 0 12px 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--space-3, 12px);
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__icon { font-size: 2rem; }
+
+.welcome-modal__heading {
+  font-size: 1.15rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  color: var(--color-text, #eaeff8);
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__desc {
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  color: var(--color-text-muted, #8898aa);
+  line-height: 1.5;
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__features {
+  list-style: none;
+  padding: 0;
+  margin: 0;
+  border-top: 1px solid var(--color-border, #2a3a56);
+  padding-top: var(--space-3, 12px);
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--space-2, 8px);
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__features li {
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  color: var(--color-text-muted, #8898aa);
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__explore {
+  width: 100%;
+  background: var(--app-primary, #2B6CB0);
+  color: #fff;
+  border: none;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-md, 8px);
+  padding: 10px;
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: opacity 150ms;
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__explore:hover { opacity: 0.85; }
+
+.welcome-modal__links {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
+  gap: var(--space-2, 8px);
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__link {
+  text-align: center;
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  padding: 6px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-sm, 4px);
+  text-decoration: none;
+  transition: opacity 150ms;
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__link:hover { opacity: 0.85; }
+
+.welcome-modal__link--primary {
+  border: 1px solid var(--app-primary, #2B6CB0);
+  color: var(--app-primary-light, #68A8D8);
+}
+
+.welcome-modal__link--secondary {
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border, #2a3a56);
+  color: var(--color-text-muted, #8898aa);
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/web/src/components/__tests__/WelcomeModal.test.ts b/web/src/components/__tests__/WelcomeModal.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b64b7da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/components/__tests__/WelcomeModal.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
+import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import WelcomeModal from '../WelcomeModal.vue'
+
+const LS_KEY = 'peregrine_demo_visited'
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  localStorage.clear()
+})
+
+describe('WelcomeModal', () => {
+  it('is visible when localStorage key is absent', () => {
+    const w = mount(WelcomeModal, { global: { stubs: { Teleport: true } } })
+    expect(w.find('.welcome-modal').exists()).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('is hidden when localStorage key is set', () => {
+    localStorage.setItem(LS_KEY, '1')
+    const w = mount(WelcomeModal, { global: { stubs: { Teleport: true } } })
+    expect(w.find('.welcome-modal').exists()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('dismisses and sets localStorage on primary CTA click', async () => {
+    const w = mount(WelcomeModal, { global: { stubs: { Teleport: true } } })
+    await w.find('.welcome-modal__explore').trigger('click')
+    expect(w.find('.welcome-modal').exists()).toBe(false)
+    expect(localStorage.getItem(LS_KEY)).toBe('1')
+  })
+
+  it('emits dismissed event on close', async () => {
+    const w = mount(WelcomeModal, { global: { stubs: { Teleport: true } } })
+    await w.find('.welcome-modal__explore').trigger('click')
+    expect(w.emitted('dismissed')).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+})