Best Startup
FaithSocial is an all encompassing digital faith platform, designed to serve the modern worldwide Christian community through prayer circles, fellowship and spiritual growth resources. Available on iOS, Android and website formats, FaithSocial’s user-friendly interface and focus on intentional, safe interconnectivity are transforming the social media sphere, giving Christians a way to connect with God and each other through chat, prayer circles, devotions, groups, Bible Studies, shopping, discussion forums, church services, dating, and online counseling.
Tell us about yourself?
Mark NeJame is an American attorney, serial entrepreneur, media Legal Analyst, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of NeJame Law, a renowned law firm based in Central Florida. He is a noted and top-rated trial attorney specializing in personal injury, criminal defense, commercial/civil litigation, and immigration.
NeJame has been consistently listed in the 50 Most Powerful People In Orlando. He has worked with numerous high profile clients including, leading entrepreneurs, judges, professionals, media celebrities, professional athletes, lawyers, politicians, and law enforcement officials. Among his many accolades he is also recognized by the Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys, a platform that acknowledges the leading lawyers in the United States.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
There is a saying in the app development world that if you’re not a little bit embarrassed with your first product you released, you waited too long to release it. Advice I would give to myself and my team a few years back is to go ahead and release the first version you’re happy with. Users hardly ever use it like you think they will, so let them help you shape the final product over time.
What problem does your business solve?
FaithSocial began with a desire to reach the millions of people in the United States and the world who identify as Christian or spiritual, but are increasingly leaving churches and becoming isolated from other believers. Church membership is declining across the United States, but humanity’s hunger for Jesus’ revolutionary gift to the world has not changed. Instead of turning to traditional churches, believers are increasingly turning to digital platforms and social media to find uplifting messages to connect with other believers.
Social media has drastically transformed the way people communicate, congregate, and consume information. Though there are many online platforms available, none are designed to meet the needs of the Christian community. The FaithSocial Team listened to fellow believers and saw the need for people of faith to have a dedicated online space. After months of creative ideation and app development, the FaithSocial Team used the three pillars of Fellowship, Prayer, and Spiritual Growth to create a user-friendly platform, the ideal space for Christians to gather and grow together.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
It all began with a conversation in 2015 between long-time friends Dr. Dexter King and Mark E. NeJame about an idea – to create a safe space online where Christians could gather together. Approximately 250 million Americans and 2.35 billion people worldwide identify as Christian, with no centralized place to gather together in fellowship. While other online platforms existed, we wanted to reimagine a new platform that was designed specifically for the Christian community, not retrofitted for their needs. Mark felt God nudging him to take action on this project for months, and he accepted the call to create what became the world’s up-and-coming Christian social media site, FaithSocial.
At FaithSocial, we believe that technology has the power to connect and equip believers with God and one another in ways yet imagined. We are passionate about enhancing the lives of believers around the world with prayer circles, fellowship and spiritual growth resources.
What is your magic sauce?
FaithSocial is poised to be the disruptor in the Christian social media space. Designed to serve the modern Christian through prayer, spiritual growth and fellowship, FaithSocial’s unique platform is a singular place where Christians can connect with God and their community. Equipped with cutting edge technology, we can provide resources for our user’s faith journey using the pillars of prayer, fellowship and spiritual growth.
Our team believes technology has the power to connect Believers with God and one another in ways not yet imagined. We are passionate about stewarding the development of FaithSocial as a space where Christians develop their faith in a modern way.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
Our goal is that one day every Christian around the world no matter their background, culture, race or creed would gather together and worship on FaithSocial every day of the week. We aspire to have top Christian pastors and thought leaders regularly sharing their content, churches managing their members and increasing their online reach, and Believers from all over the world connecting and growing in their faith.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
We have had our fair share of challenges along the way, but our biggest challenge has been the COVID-19 pandemic. We were beginning to embark on our seed fundraising round, and the pandemic slowed us to a halt. However, we used the time to grow the platform, adding new features and growing the community, and have now launched our fundraising campaign on WeFunder, allowing all of our users to become an investor in the company.
How do people get involved/buy into your vision?
Invest in FaithSocial on WeFunder. Our plans for the future of FaithSocial are God-sized, and with your investment you will be part of making that happen. You can invest today at https://fa.ith.social/cf
The best way to show your support is to sign up for FaithSocial, available in all device stores. Accounts are free to create and always will be, and it is the best way to enrich your spiritual life.
