diff --git a/bridgev2/commands/processor.go b/bridgev2/commands/processor.go
index 49769514..bd49158b 100644
--- a/bridgev2/commands/processor.go
+++ b/bridgev2/commands/processor.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func NewProcessor(bridge *bridgev2.Bridge) bridgev2.CommandProcessor {
 		CommandRegisterPush, CommandDeletePortal, CommandDeleteAllPortals,
 		CommandLogin, CommandListLogins, CommandLogout, CommandSetPreferredLogin,
 		CommandSetRelay, CommandUnsetRelay,
-		CommandResolveIdentifier, CommandStartChat, CommandSearch,
+		CommandResolveIdentifier, CommandStartChat, CommandSearch, CommandCreate,
 	)
 	return proc
 }
diff --git a/bridgev2/commands/startchat.go b/bridgev2/commands/startchat.go
index 24c8a488..ee3eba77 100644
--- a/bridgev2/commands/startchat.go
+++ b/bridgev2/commands/startchat.go
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 	"golang.org/x/net/html"
 
 	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/bridgev2"
 	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/bridgev2/networkid"
+	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/event"
 	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/id"
 )
 
@@ -192,3 +194,66 @@ func fnSearch(ce *Event) {
 	}
 	ce.Reply("Search results:\n\n%s", strings.Join(resultsString, "\n"))
 }
+
+var CommandCreate = &FullHandler{
+	Func: fnCreate,
+	Name: "create",
+	Help: HelpMeta{
+		Section:     HelpSectionChats,
+		Description: "Create a group chat for the current Matrix room.",
+	},
+	RequiresLogin: true,
+}
+
+func fnCreate(ce *Event) {
+	if ce.Portal != nil {
+		ce.Reply("This is already a portal room")
+		return
+	}
+	login, api, _ := getClientForStartingChat[bridgev2.GroupCreatingNetworkAPI](ce, "creating groups")
+	if api == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	groupCreateInfo, err := ce.Bot.GetGroupCreateInfo(ce.Ctx, ce.RoomID, login)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("Failed getting GroupCreateInfo")
+		return
+	}
+	createResponse, err := api.CreateGroup(ce.Ctx, groupCreateInfo)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to create Group")
+		return
+	}
+	portal := createResponse.Portal
+	portal.MXID = ce.RoomID
+	if createResponse.PortalInfo != nil {
+		portal.UpdateInfo(ce.Ctx, createResponse.PortalInfo, login, nil, time.Time{})
+	}
+	_, err = ce.Bot.SendState(ce.Ctx, portal.MXID, event.StateElementFunctionalMembers, "", &event.Content{
+		Parsed: &event.ElementFunctionalMembersContent{
+			ServiceMembers: []id.UserID{ce.Bot.GetMXID()},
+		},
+	}, time.Time{})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warn().Err(err).Msg("Failed to set service members in room")
+	}
+	message := "Group chat portal created"
+	hasWarning := false
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warn().Err(err).Msg("Failed to give power to bot in new Group")
+		message += "\n\nWarning: failed to promote bot"
+		hasWarning = true
+	}
+	mx, ok := ce.Bridge.Matrix.(bridgev2.MatrixConnectorWithPostRoomBridgeHandling)
+	if ok {
+		err = mx.HandleNewlyBridgedRoom(ce.Ctx, ce.RoomID)
+		if err != nil {
+			if hasWarning {
+				message += fmt.Sprintf(", %s", err.Error())
+			} else {
+				message += fmt.Sprintf("\n\nWarning: %s", err.Error())
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	ce.Reply(message)
+}
diff --git a/bridgev2/matrix/connector.go b/bridgev2/matrix/connector.go
index c2b3f7cd..f806cb87 100644
--- a/bridgev2/matrix/connector.go
+++ b/bridgev2/matrix/connector.go
@@ -625,3 +625,93 @@ func (br *Connector) HandleNewlyBridgedRoom(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomI
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (br *Connector) GetGroupCreateInfo(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomID, creator *bridgev2.UserLogin) (*bridgev2.GroupCreateInfo, error) {
+	log := zerolog.Ctx(ctx)
+	if creator == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no group creator provided")
+	}
+	roomState, err := br.Bot.State(ctx, roomID)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to get room state")
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	createInfo := bridgev2.GroupCreateInfo{}
+	members := roomState[event.StateMember]
+	powerLevelsRaw, ok := roomState[event.StatePowerLevels][""]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	powerLevelsRaw.Content.ParseRaw(event.StatePowerLevels)
+	powerLevels := powerLevelsRaw.Content.AsPowerLevels()
+	for mxid, member := range members {
+		userID := id.UserID(mxid)
+		var target bridgev2.GhostOrUserLogin
+		if id.UserID(mxid) == creator.UserMXID {
+			target = creator
+		} else {
+			user, err := br.Bridge.GetUserByMXID(ctx, userID)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Err(err).Msg("Error getting user")
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			if user != nil {
+				target = user.GetDefaultLogin()
+				if target == nil {
+					continue
+				}
+			} else {
+				ghost, err := br.Bridge.GetGhostByMXID(ctx, userID)
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Err(err).Msg("Error getting ghost")
+					return nil, err
+				}
+				if ghost == nil {
+					continue
+				}
+				target = ghost
+			}
+		}
+		member.Content.ParseRaw(event.StateMember)
+		content := member.Content.AsMember()
+		createInfo.Users = append(createInfo.Users, &bridgev2.LevelAndMembership{
+			Target:     target,
+			PowerLevel: powerLevels.GetUserLevel(userID),
+			Membership: content.Membership,
+		})
+	}
+	joinRulesRaw, ok := roomState[event.StateJoinRules][""]
+	if ok {
+		joinRulesRaw.Content.ParseRaw(event.StateJoinRules)
+		createInfo.JoinRule = &joinRulesRaw.Content.AsJoinRules().JoinRule
+	}
+	roomNameEventRaw, ok := roomState[event.StateRoomName][""]
+	if ok {
+		roomNameEventRaw.Content.ParseRaw(event.StateRoomName)
+		createInfo.Name = &roomNameEventRaw.Content.AsRoomName().Name
+	}
+	roomTopicEvent, ok := roomState[event.StateTopic][""]
+	if ok {
+		roomTopicEvent.Content.ParseRaw(event.StateTopic)
+		createInfo.Topic = &roomTopicEvent.Content.AsTopic().Topic
+	}
+	roomAvatarEvent, ok := roomState[event.StateRoomAvatar][""]
+	if ok {
+		var avatarURL id.ContentURI
+		var avatarBytes []byte
+		roomAvatarEvent.Content.ParseRaw(event.StateRoomAvatar)
+		avatarURL, err = roomAvatarEvent.Content.AsRoomAvatar().URL.Parse()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to parse avatar content URI")
+		}
+		if !avatarURL.IsEmpty() {
+			avatarBytes, err = br.Bot.DownloadBytes(ctx, avatarURL)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Err(err).Stringer("Failed to download updated avatar %s", avatarURL)
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		}
+		createInfo.Avatar = avatarBytes
+	}
+	return &createInfo, nil
+}
diff --git a/bridgev2/matrix/intent.go b/bridgev2/matrix/intent.go
index e789fa75..18cc42f9 100644
--- a/bridgev2/matrix/intent.go
+++ b/bridgev2/matrix/intent.go
@@ -445,3 +445,7 @@ func (as *ASIntent) MuteRoom(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomID, until time.T
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func (as *ASIntent) GetGroupCreateInfo(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomID, creator *bridgev2.UserLogin) (*bridgev2.GroupCreateInfo, error) {
+	return as.Connector.GetGroupCreateInfo(ctx, roomID, creator)
+}
diff --git a/bridgev2/matrixinterface.go b/bridgev2/matrixinterface.go
index 6d30891e..51b2e33c 100644
--- a/bridgev2/matrixinterface.go
+++ b/bridgev2/matrixinterface.go
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ type MatrixAPI interface {
 
 	TagRoom(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomID, tag event.RoomTag, isTagged bool) error
 	MuteRoom(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomID, until time.Time) error
+	GetGroupCreateInfo(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomID, creator *UserLogin) (*GroupCreateInfo, error)
 }
 
 type MarkAsDMMatrixAPI interface {
diff --git a/bridgev2/matrixinvite.go b/bridgev2/matrixinvite.go
index 740743f6..ca946685 100644
--- a/bridgev2/matrixinvite.go
+++ b/bridgev2/matrixinvite.go
@@ -209,6 +209,127 @@ func (br *Bridge) handleGhostDMInvite(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event, sen
 	}
 }
 
+func (br *Bridge) handleGhostGroupInvite(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event, sender *User) {
+	ghostID, _ := br.Matrix.ParseGhostMXID(id.UserID(evt.GetStateKey()))
+	validator, ok := br.Network.(IdentifierValidatingNetwork)
+	if ghostID == "" || (ok && !validator.ValidateUserID(ghostID)) {
+		rejectInvite(ctx, evt, br.Matrix.GhostIntent(ghostID), "Malformed user ID")
+		return
+	}
+	log := zerolog.Ctx(ctx).With().
+		Str("invitee_network_id", string(ghostID)).
+		Stringer("room_id", evt.RoomID).
+		Logger()
+	// TODO sort in preference order
+	logins := sender.GetCachedUserLogins()
+	if len(logins) == 0 {
+		rejectInvite(ctx, evt, br.Matrix.GhostIntent(ghostID), "You're not logged in")
+		return
+	}
+	creatingAPI, ok := logins[0].Client.(GroupCreatingNetworkAPI)
+	if !ok {
+		rejectInvite(ctx, evt, br.Matrix.GhostIntent(ghostID), "This bridge does not support creating groups")
+		return
+	}
+	doublePuppet := sender.DoublePuppet(ctx)
+	if doublePuppet == nil {
+		// TODO: should the ghost join and print some message like in v1?
+		return
+	}
+	invitedGhost, err := br.GetGhostByID(ctx, ghostID)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to get invited ghost")
+		return
+	}
+	var resp *ResolveIdentifierResponse
+	var sourceLogin *UserLogin
+	// TODO this should somehow lock incoming event processing to avoid race conditions where a new portal room is created
+	//      between ResolveIdentifier returning and the portal MXID being updated.
+	for _, login := range logins {
+		api, ok := login.Client.(IdentifierResolvingNetworkAPI)
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		resp, err = api.ResolveIdentifier(ctx, string(ghostID), false)
+		if errors.Is(err, ErrResolveIdentifierTryNext) {
+			log.Debug().Err(err).Str("login_id", string(login.ID)).Msg("Failed to resolve identifier, trying next login")
+			continue
+		} else if err != nil {
+			log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to resolve identifier")
+			sendErrorAndLeave(ctx, evt, invitedGhost.Intent, "Failed to create chat")
+			return
+		} else {
+			sourceLogin = login
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if resp == nil {
+		log.Warn().Msg("No login could resolve the identifier")
+		sendErrorAndLeave(ctx, evt, br.Matrix.GhostIntent(ghostID), "Failed to create chat via any login")
+		return
+	}
+	err = doublePuppet.EnsureInvited(ctx, evt.RoomID, br.Bot.GetMXID())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to ensure bot is invited to room")
+		sendErrorAndLeave(ctx, evt, invitedGhost.Intent, "Failed to invite bridge bot")
+		return
+	}
+	err = br.Bot.EnsureJoined(ctx, evt.RoomID)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to ensure bot is joined to room")
+		sendErrorAndLeave(ctx, evt, invitedGhost.Intent, "Failed to join with bridge bot")
+		return
+	}
+	groupCreateInfo, err := br.Bot.GetGroupCreateInfo(ctx, evt.RoomID, sourceLogin)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("Failed getting GroupCreateInfo")
+		return
+	}
+	createResponse, err := creatingAPI.CreateGroup(ctx, groupCreateInfo)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to create Group")
+		return
+	}
+	portal := createResponse.Portal
+	didSetPortal := portal.setMXIDToExistingRoom(evt.RoomID)
+	if createResponse.PortalInfo != nil {
+		portal.UpdateInfo(ctx, createResponse.PortalInfo, sourceLogin, nil, time.Time{})
+	}
+	if didSetPortal {
+		// TODO this might become unnecessary if UpdateInfo starts taking care of it
+		_, err = br.Bot.SendState(ctx, portal.MXID, event.StateElementFunctionalMembers, "", &event.Content{
+			Parsed: &event.ElementFunctionalMembersContent{
+				ServiceMembers: []id.UserID{br.Bot.GetMXID()},
+			},
+		}, time.Time{})
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Warn().Err(err).Msg("Failed to set service members in room")
+		}
+		message := "Group chat portal created"
+		err = br.givePowerToBot(ctx, evt.RoomID, doublePuppet)
+		hasWarning := false
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Warn().Err(err).Msg("Failed to give power to bot in new Group")
+			message += "\n\nWarning: failed to promote bot"
+			hasWarning = true
+		}
+		mx, ok := br.Matrix.(MatrixConnectorWithPostRoomBridgeHandling)
+		if ok {
+			err = mx.HandleNewlyBridgedRoom(ctx, evt.RoomID)
+			if err != nil {
+				if hasWarning {
+					message += fmt.Sprintf(", %s", err.Error())
+				} else {
+					message += fmt.Sprintf("\n\nWarning: %s", err.Error())
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		sendNotice(ctx, evt, invitedGhost.Intent, message)
+	} else {
+		rejectInvite(ctx, evt, br.Bot, "")
+	}
+}
+
 func (br *Bridge) givePowerToBot(ctx context.Context, roomID id.RoomID, userWithPower MatrixAPI) error {
 	powers, err := br.Matrix.GetPowerLevels(ctx, roomID)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/bridgev2/networkinterface.go b/bridgev2/networkinterface.go
index 4fd8a603..25a7e666 100644
--- a/bridgev2/networkinterface.go
+++ b/bridgev2/networkinterface.go
@@ -604,9 +604,24 @@ type UserSearchingNetworkAPI interface {
 	SearchUsers(ctx context.Context, query string) ([]*ResolveIdentifierResponse, error)
 }
 
+type LevelAndMembership struct {
+	Target     GhostOrUserLogin
+	PowerLevel int
+	Membership event.Membership
+}
+
+type GroupCreateInfo struct {
+	Users       []*LevelAndMembership
+	Name        *string
+	Topic       *string
+	Avatar      []byte
+	PowerLevels *event.PowerLevelsEventContent
+	JoinRule    *event.JoinRule
+}
+
 type GroupCreatingNetworkAPI interface {
 	IdentifierResolvingNetworkAPI
-	CreateGroup(ctx context.Context, name string, users ...networkid.UserID) (*CreateChatResponse, error)
+	CreateGroup(ctx context.Context, msg *GroupCreateInfo) (*CreateChatResponse, error)
 }
 
 type MembershipChangeType struct {
diff --git a/bridgev2/queue.go b/bridgev2/queue.go
index a79d56e3..4e3d0d30 100644
--- a/bridgev2/queue.go
+++ b/bridgev2/queue.go
@@ -131,8 +131,12 @@ func (br *Bridge) QueueMatrixEvent(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event) {
 			evt:    evt,
 			sender: sender,
 		})
-	} else if evt.Type == event.StateMember && br.IsGhostMXID(id.UserID(evt.GetStateKey())) && evt.Content.AsMember().Membership == event.MembershipInvite && evt.Content.AsMember().IsDirect {
-		br.handleGhostDMInvite(ctx, evt, sender)
+	} else if evt.Type == event.StateMember && br.IsGhostMXID(id.UserID(evt.GetStateKey())) && evt.Content.AsMember().Membership == event.MembershipInvite {
+		if evt.Content.AsMember().IsDirect {
+			br.handleGhostDMInvite(ctx, evt, sender)
+		} else {
+			br.handleGhostGroupInvite(ctx, evt, sender)
+		}
 	} else {
 		status := WrapErrorInStatus(ErrNoPortal)
 		br.Matrix.SendMessageStatus(ctx, &status, StatusEventInfoFromEvent(evt))