Pewbeam, a Nigerian church-technology startup founded by Dára Sobaloju, has secured investment from Resilience17, a firm focused on African technology companies. The undisclosed funding will accelerate the development of Pewbeam's artificial intelligence platform for live church services. The company aims to help churches manage worship experiences more efficiently through automated scripture references and presentation tools.
A Platform Built for Modern Church Services
Pewbeam is building an artificial intelligence platform that helps churches manage live services in real time. The technology automatically surfaces relevant scripture references and coordinates presentation slides for worship teams. The company is also developing AI-powered lyrics and a feature called Pewnote to expand its tools for both service teams and congregants.
Tools for Service Teams and Congregants
Beyond its presentation features, Pewbeam is building tools that serve the wider church community. AI-powered lyrics can assist worship teams in preparing songs while Pewnote offers a separate resource for congregants. This dual focus extends the startup's value beyond the technical booth and into the hands of worshippers.
Real-Time Coordination for Service Teams
In many churches, service teams still rely on manual processes to manage lyrics, scripture references, and presentation materials. Pewbeam automates these tasks so that technical coordination becomes faster and less intrusive during worship. This allows service leaders to focus on the congregation rather than the mechanics of running a live presentation.
Resilience17's Investment Thesis
Resilience17 stated that it is backing Pewbeam as part of its focus on African technology startups. The investment firm sees potential in applying artificial intelligence to the operational and presentation needs of modern church services. With this support, Pewbeam is positioned to deepen its AI capabilities and build technology tailored to a growing faith-based market.
Addressing a Distinct Market Need
Church services demand a high degree of reliability because live worship events leave little room for technical delays or errors. Pewbeam addresses this need by offering specialized software that understands the rhythm and content of church gatherings. The platform is designed to serve both small congregations and larger church networks that require consistent presentation quality.
Expanding Product Development
The new capital will support ongoing development of Pewbeam's core service management tools and its artificial intelligence features. The startup is particularly focused on improving the accuracy of automated scripture selection and the responsiveness of presentation slide updates. Over time, Pewbeam expects to introduce additional tools for congregational participation and church administration.
A Growing African Technology Ecosystem
Resilience17's support reflects a wider investor interest in African startups that address localized needs with globally relevant technology. Pewbeam's faith-focused platform demonstrates how sector-specific software can emerge from the continent's diverse innovation landscape. The investment may also encourage other founders building tools for religious and community institutions across Africa.
Broader Implications for Faith-Based Technology
Digital transformation is gradually reaching houses of worship, where traditional tools often fail to keep pace with modern service formats. Pewbeam's approach shows that artificial intelligence can simplify routine tasks such as scripture lookup and slide management. As more religious organizations adopt these technologies, demand for reliable church-specific software is likely to grow.
Pewbeam's partnership with Resilience17 marks a significant step in its mission to modernize church service delivery through artificial intelligence. The company will now concentrate on refining its product and expanding its reach among churches that need dependable presentation and scripture management. As it develops further, Pewbeam could influence how faith communities adopt technology for worship and engagement.