diff --git a/.github/time/test_time.py b/.github/time/test_time.py
index 363a69d..1486c29 100644
--- a/.github/time/test_time.py
+++ b/.github/time/test_time.py
@@ -683,3 +683,16 @@ p27 = vt.normalize_plan({"pricing": [{"tier": "Free", "price": "$0"}, {"tier": "
                                      {"tier": "Team", "price": "$19/mo per repo — nothing charged today"}]}, {})
 assert [t["price"] for t in p27["pricing"]] == ["$0", "$5/mo founding price", "$19/mo per repo"], p27["pricing"]
 print("ALL OK 19")
+
+# 28 the second fix round escalates to a stronger worker (cost cascade)
+W = VWorld()
+c28 = W.add(f"Venture {vt.today()}", labels=["venture"])
+W.say(c28, f"x\n\n{tm.MARK}" + json.dumps({"venture": True, "beat": "built", "winner": w16, "plan": plan16, "fixes": 1}) + " -->")
+W.files["ventures/mdecks/index.html"] = "<html>thin</html>"
+specs = []
+def spy(card, done, spec):
+    specs.append(spec); return {"pr": -1, "steps": 3, "seat": "grok", "model": "grok-4-7"}
+vt._build_on_pages = spy
+vtick()
+assert specs == ["venice:grok 4.7"] and "(grok-4-7)" in W.text(c28), (specs, W.text(c28)[-200:])
+print("ALL OK 20")
diff --git a/.github/time/venture.py b/.github/time/venture.py
index a699fdd..c835f29 100644
--- a/.github/time/venture.py
+++ b/.github/time/venture.py
@@ -1101,11 +1101,13 @@ def advance(card: dict, comments: list[dict], beats: list[dict], heavy_ok: bool)
                     return "wait"
                 say(f"🔧 The checks found {len(problems)} problem(s); fix round {fixes + 1}:\n\n{bullets}",
                     {"beat": "built", **keep, "fixes": fixes, "problems": problems})
+                # cost cascade: the cheap worker gets the first round; a failed round escalates to a stronger model
+                spec = worker_spec() if fixes == 0 else env("TIME_VENTURE_ESCALATE", "venice:grok 4.7")
                 r = _build_on_pages({"number": n, "title": f"Fix the {w['name']} launch page",
                                      "body": FIX_BODY.format(name=w["name"], slug=w["slug"], problems=bullets, page=w.get("page", ""),
                                                              join=w["join"], signal=signal_url(w))},
-                                    "every check above passes", worker_spec())
-                say(f"🔧 `{r['seat']}` worked on the fixes in {r['steps']} steps. Re-checking.",
+                                    "every check above passes", spec)
+                say(f"🔧 `{r['seat']}` ({r['model']}) worked on the fixes in {r['steps']} steps. Re-checking.",
                     {"beat": "built", **keep, "fixes": fixes + 1})
                 return "heavy"
             plan = {**plan, "launch_channels": true_drafts(w, plan, chair)}