diff --git a/src/teampulse/monitor.py b/src/teampulse/monitor.py
index 8cd8c01..c8858cd 100644
--- a/src/teampulse/monitor.py
+++ b/src/teampulse/monitor.py
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ _MSG_SELECTOR = "[data-tid='chat-pane-message']"
 _SENDER_SELECTOR = "[data-tid='message-author-name']"
 _PROFILE_EMAIL_SELECTOR = ".lpc_ip_root_class a[href*='mailto:']"
 
-_START_RE = re.compile(r'^!start(?:\s+"([^"]*)")?$', re.IGNORECASE)
+_START_RE = re.compile(r'^!start(?:\s+(.+))?$', re.IGNORECASE)
 _STOP_RE = re.compile(r'^!stop$', re.IGNORECASE)
+_QUOTE_CHARS = '"“”'  # straight and typographic quotes
 
 
 def parse_trigger(message: ChatMessage, current_user: str) -> tuple[str, str] | None:
@@ -25,7 +26,8 @@ def parse_trigger(message: ChatMessage, current_user: str) -> tuple[str, str] |
 
     m = _START_RE.match(text)
     if m:
-        name = (m.group(1) or "").strip() or "Unbekannter Vortragender"
+        raw = (m.group(1) or "").strip(_QUOTE_CHARS).strip()
+        name = raw or "Unbekannter Vortragender"
         return ("start", name)
 
     if _STOP_RE.match(text):
diff --git a/tests/test_monitor_triggers.py b/tests/test_monitor_triggers.py
index 47eb00b..8f68a19 100644
--- a/tests/test_monitor_triggers.py
+++ b/tests/test_monitor_triggers.py
@@ -21,6 +21,21 @@ def test_start_with_single_word_name():
     assert result == ("start", "Bauer")
 
 
+def test_start_without_quotes():
+    result = parse_trigger(msg(CURRENT_USER, "!start Stephan Rehfeld"), CURRENT_USER)
+    assert result == ("start", "Stephan Rehfeld")
+
+
+def test_start_with_typographic_quotes():
+    result = parse_trigger(msg(CURRENT_USER, "“start” is not this, but: !start “Anna Bauer”"), CURRENT_USER)
+    assert result is None  # not a trigger — just a regular message
+
+
+def test_start_with_smart_quotes_around_name():
+    result = parse_trigger(msg(CURRENT_USER, '!start “Anna Bauer”'), CURRENT_USER)
+    assert result == ("start", "Anna Bauer")
+
+
 def test_start_without_name_returns_placeholder():
     result = parse_trigger(msg(CURRENT_USER, "!start"), CURRENT_USER)
     assert result == ("start", "Unbekannter Vortragender")