diff --git a/momentum b/momentum
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2923f92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/momentum
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# momentum — run the inspection/monitoring CLI with the project's venv.
+# Usage: ./momentum watch | doctor | inspect signals | inspect criteria SYM | ...
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VENV_PY="/home/philip/.venvs/momentum/bin/python"
+if [ ! -x "$VENV_PY" ]; then
+  echo "venv python not found at $VENV_PY" >&2
+  echo "create it:" >&2
+  echo "  uv venv \"\$HOME/.venvs/momentum\" --python 3.13" >&2
+  echo "  uv pip install --python \"\$HOME/.venvs/momentum\" psycopg2-binary pandas pydantic pydantic-settings pyyaml typer rich numpy python-dotenv" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+cd "$ROOT"
+exec "$VENV_PY" momentum_cli.py "$@"
diff --git a/research/ingestion/market_data.py b/research/ingestion/market_data.py
index 9884dd2..72ca1fb 100644
--- a/research/ingestion/market_data.py
+++ b/research/ingestion/market_data.py
@@ -234,7 +234,8 @@ def discover_active_symbols(
     static symbol list.
     """
     try:
-        actives = client.get_most_actives(top=top * 3, by="volume")
+        # Alpaca caps the most-actives `top` at 100; never request more.
+        actives = client.get_most_actives(top=min(top * 3, 100), by="volume")
         symbols = [a["symbol"] for a in actives if a.get("symbol")]
         if not symbols:
             return []