How can technology help deepen spiritual connections in today’s modern world? BibleChat, a startup based in Galați, Romania, seeks to answer this question by combining artificial intelligence with biblical teachings. Throughout the past year, the startup has been gaining traction and recognition as one of Romania’s standout innovations.

The app offers a unique blend of features designed to make spiritual guidance more accessible and personalized. From tailored prayers and answers to religious questions to interactive games that teach biblical principles, BibleChat provides a modern way to engage with faith.

With over 7 million downloads—6 million of them from the US—and $14 million in funding, BibleChat is becoming one of the largest Christian apps in the world. Backed by investors like Silicon Gardens and Underline Ventures, the company is poised for further growth.

In this interview with IT Logs, co-founder and CEO Laurențiu-Victor Bălașa discusses the journey behind BibleChat, their remarkable growth, and plans for the future.

IT Logs: What inspired you to create BibleChat, and how has your faith influenced the app’s development?  

Laurențiu-Victor Bălașa: Back in 2019, I went through a season where I felt lost and spent about six months wondering about my true purpose in life. I remember I was 30. I think you could say I went through an existential crisis. I was yearning to discover what my existence is about.

Through that long phase of reflection, I realized the only universal truth across the entire human experience: suffering. I discovered suffering is a necessary part of being human.

I realized the fact that real growth begins only when one accepts this reality. The biggest example for this acceptance resides within Christianity. Jesus showed us how we can transcend suffering. That realization lit a spark in me to help others find comfort and meaning in their own struggles. 

BibleChat was born from that spark. My purpose became helping others minimize their sufferings – through acceptance.

How does the AI behind BibleChat work to provide personalized prayers and contextual answers to biblical questions?

LB: At the heart of BibleChat is a carefully built AI system that we designed from the ground up. 

We created our own infrastructure, using various AI models in conjunction with a Retrieval-Augmented Generation system based on our work with priests and pastors across various denominations.

This work with priests, pastors, and PhD-level biblical scholars from multiple Christian denominations ensures every response, prayer, or Scripture verse is 100% aligned with the Word of God.

The goal has always been to deliver personalized guidance—whether it’s a heartfelt prayer or an answer to a nuanced scriptural question.

BibleChat has seen impressive growth, with 7 million downloads globally. What do you think has driven this success?

LB: Honestly, me and my cofounder have been in the field of consumer apps for 15 years now. We’ve used our hard-won expertise in promoting BibleChat to the general public. 

Together with that, I believe the fact we invented this new way of interacting with the Bible (e.g. asking and receiving answers) contributed to the massive interest BibleChat has enjoyed globally.

With over $14 million raised in funding, what new features or expansions can users expect in the near future?

LB: We’re excited to expand the ways people can engage with BibleChat and connect with one another. One of our main priorities is building a stronger community experience.

We’re also developing more immersive content, such as guided audio devotionals and deeper study tools, so everyone can explore Scripture in a fresh, meaningful way. Our goal is to keep evolving, guided by our commitment to serving users from all walks of life and staying faithful to God’s Word.

How do you plan to maintain the balance between scaling your user base and preserving the app’s core values?

LB: We see technology as a powerful tool that helps us stay true to our values, no matter how much we grow. Our mission—detailed on our website—remains the cornerstone of every decision we make.

By investing in robust content review processes, collaborating with faith leaders, and thoughtfully designing each new feature, we can scale responsibly without ever compromising on the beliefs that inspired BibleChat in the first place. That’s the beauty of technology: it empowers us to reach more people while staying grounded in our core purpose.

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