As many congregations face declining attendance and financial pressures, leaving valuable church buildings underutilized, a tech startup named ChurchSpace — dubbed “Airbnb for churches” — is looking to duplicate and expand its revenue-generating model in a new partnership with the City of Detroit.

The company, active in Texas since 2022, offers a platform helping churches generate revenue by renting out their facilities for events, businesses, and community needs, turning potentially burdensome properties into assets. Backed by a recent $1.2 million funding round led by Black Ops Ventures, with participation from investors including Minor Capital and Michigan Rise, ChurchSpace is relocating its headquarters from Houston to Detroit, Michigan.

According to a press release, the move signifies a major expansion for the nascent tech company, co-founded by Day Edwards and Emmanuel Brown. Both Edwards and Brown are PKs — pastor’s kids — who say the ministry struggles they’ve witnessed firsthand help fuel their mission.

“When God gives vision, He makes provision,” Edwards said in the press release. “This isn’t just tech — it’s about godly stewardship, economic justice, and making sure churches can serve and survive.”

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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan recently welcomed ChurchSpace to his city, revealing the partnership and pilot program in an April 24 announcement.

“Our churches have long been a critical backbone of our neighborhoods — feeding families, mentoring youth, and caring for those in need — and through ChurchSpace’s innovative work, they will be able to generate more resources to do their work,” Duggan said.

ChurchSpace plans to onboard an initial pilot group of up to 15 Detroit churches to help them utilize their vacant and underutilized spaces to increase revenue.

Currently on the company’s website, visitors can search availability for a church’s bowling alley, café space, or cinema-style auditorium at rates ranging anywhere from $75 an hour to $240 for a two-hour booking.

With its fresh injection of cash and new empowering partnership, Edwards and Brown envision moving ChurchSpace beyond event rentals to activate church campuses as micro-logistics and last-mile delivery hubs, creating potential new income streams and community support roles.

Their current revenue model has already shown promise, with some Texas churches reportedly earning nearly $100,000 annually through the platform, reinvesting funds into local outreach. Mayor Duggan claims Detroit’s congregations could also potentially help create more than 150 local jobs for roles at ChurchSpace within the tech company’s first three to five years in the city.

Editor’s note: This article was written with the assistance of AI.