SoftBank, celebrities back a $40 million investment in Christian worship and meditation app Glorify

Glorify, a Christian faith-based app for worship and meditation, has raised $40 million in funding from investors including SoftBank Latin America Fund, Silicon Valley heavyweight Andreessen Horowitz, and reality TV star Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble, Michael Ovitz, Michael Bublé, Jason Derulo, the founders of Candy Crush and others.

In a statement, Glorify said it will use the fresh funding to scale its operations, expand its team internationally, create new and exclusive content, while further evolving the app’s features to meet and serve customer demand from Christians around the globe.

Founded in 2020 by Ed Beccle and Henry Costa, the London, England-based provides a mobile app designed to create space and structure for Christians to connect with God on a daily basis. The app also provides faith-based meditation to subscribers via inspirational quotes, worship routines, and short Bible extracts.

While the amount raised is minuscule compared to the millions of dollars regularly invested by major funds in early-stage startup companies, Glorify is one of a number of Christian apps which have grown in recent years, tapping mainstream financing sources. According to the startup, Glorify app currently has around 250,000 daily users, mostly in the United States and Brazil.

“When we first came up with the concept for Glorify, we knew we were onto something big, but as we met with investors, it soon became clear that we’ve managed to capture lightning in a bottle,” said Ed Beccle, co-Founder of Glorify. “So much of what is out there doesn’t resonate with people today. But with Glorify, we’ve created an experience that not only helps Christians maximize their daily quiet time in a way that fits their lifestyle and personal needs, but empowers Christians, young and old, to open themselves up to faith again. And, it’s only the beginning.”

Built from the premise that small and regular connections with God help people fight anxiety, sleep better and support their overall wellbeing, Glorify empowers all Christians to reflect and enjoy their daily quiet time on their own terms. It is incredibly easy to use. Users simply download the app from their Google Play or iOS app store, create an account, and start their first daily worship.

As users engage with Glorify, they are greeted with an inspiring quote, followed by a curated worship routine that consists of bite-size Bible passages, a devotional, and reflection. From there, users are prompted to continue their spiritual journey by exploring additional content, including exclusive music, prayers, and meditations. With new content presented to users daily, Glorify is designed to become a habitual app, fostering positive and life-changing habits for users through their connection with God.

“The Christian community is both incredibly social and global but has historically been underserved by new technologies. Glorify is changing this with a best-in-class mobile app featuring individual and community-driven experiences, designed specifically for the Christian community. We’re excited to support Ed and Henry and the entire Glorify team as they continue innovating on the product, growing their exclusive content library, and connecting Christians in new markets around the world,” said Connie Chan, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz.

The faith-based market has been heating up and Glorify’s Series A showcases the massive impact that can be made when faith and technology meet. Other faith-based startups have seen steady growth over the past year. For example, a Catholic prayer app called Hallow has also seen rapid growth. Earlier this month, Hallow raised more than $50 million in funding from investors including Peter Thiel. Others include Abide and Pray.

The round complements an exceptional 2021 for Glorify, having attracted millions of Christians of all denominations despite little marketing, as the team presses to offer the masses a positive framework for faith, rather than a specific theological persuasion.

“Whether you are in the studio, on the road, or even with family, it is incredibly challenging to carve out quiet time,” said Michael Bublé. “Prayer has been such an important part of my life. With Glorify, we now have the tools to find moments throughout the day to connect with God on our own terms.”

Glorify is available to download for free on iOS or Android. For more information on Glorify, its framework for faith, and notable users and partners, visit www.glorify-app.com