Pastors’ Kids Land $1.2M And New Detroit HQ For Their “Airbnb For Churches”

ChurchSpace, a Houston-born tech startup that transforms underused church buildings into rentable community spaces, is expanding its mission to the Midwest. The company has announced the relocation of its headquarters to Detroit alongside the close of an oversubscribed $1.2 million funding round.

“What we built in Houston was more than technology—it was transformation,” said ChurchSpace Co-Founder and Co-CEO Day Edwards said in a press release. “We expanded our purpose and packaged proven strategies to help churches thrive, transform communities, and even combat food insecurity. Now, with prayer and the support of our team and investors, we’re bringing that same impact to Detroit.”

Airbnb for churches

Founded and led by millennial pastors’ kids Emmanuel Brown and Day Edwards in 2021, ChurchSpace has been dubbed the “Airbnb for churches.” The platform helps churches generate revenue by renting their facilities for everything from weddings to warehouse logistics.

ChurchSpace’s journey began with ChurchSpace TV, a worship streaming service that Faith Media One acquired in 2021. That exit allowed Brown and Edwards to pivot toward real estate, building a tech platform that has attracted major backers like Google for Startups and Andreessen Horowitz’s Talent x Opportunity initiative.

Churches in Texas using the platform have generated up to $100,000 annually in new income—funds that have supported ministries, food programs, and community outreach.

The move to Detroit

Detroit is thought to be home to more churches per square mile than any other US city, making it an ideal environment for ChurchSpace’s vision.

The startup has partnered with the City of Detroit to activate church campuses as event spaces, business hubs, and micro-logistics centers for last-mile delivery. This model will see churches host pop-up markets, retail partnerships, and food distribution programs, unlocking new opportunities for economic development and community support. The pilot program will involve 15 local churches.

“We believe the future of community productivity starts with church,” Brown told Crains in an interview. “You can find a church in any city. And we believe that neighborhoods deserve to get goods faster, more reliably, and in a convenient way.”

Funding and Future Vision

ChurchSpace’s $1.2 million funding round was led by Black Ops Ventures, with participation from Michigan Rise, and Minor Capital, founded by Duo Security co-founder Dug Song.

Song, who met the founders at the Founders and Funders of Color Conference in Detroit, declined to disclose the amount his family office invested in the startup but told Crains the investment was not contingent on ChurchSpace relocating to Michigan. Michigan Rise, however, requires funded startups to base most of their workforce in the state.

The new capital will fund ChurchSpace’s Detroit expansion and accelerate its shift toward warehouse-style rentals. By July 19, the company will officially open its new headquarters at 1420 Washington Blvd.

Image: ChurchSpace Inc.