Juan: From Small Beginnings to Big Missions

From Small Beginnings to Big Missions: An Interview with Juan Acosta, Founder of Tabella

I recently had the unique privilege of interviewing my boss—no pressure!—the one and only Juan Acosta, founder of Tabella. This interview turned into one of those special moments where you see someone’s story in a whole new light. Like many of us, Juan’s journey is marked by unexpected twists and unlikely blessings, each one adding up to something bigger than he ever imagined.

A Family that Embodied Faith

Juan shared a bit about his upbringing in Venezuela and, later, Miami. Though his family faced tough times financially, he described his parents as his ultimate role models. His mother, a teacher, and his father, an entrepreneur, didn’t just talk about faith—they lived it. For Juan, that meant family rosaries, weekly Mass, and a community of other Catholic families who shared one common love for God.

Everyday moments of prayer and community laid the foundation for Juan’s Catholic faith. Juan’s parents presented the faith in such a way that it never felt forced, but rather a natural part of life. This integrated approach to incorporating extraordinary virtue into ordinary life was seen most notable in his family devotion to Pslam 23. Juan shared that Psalm 23 was the staple prayer in his household. Whether it was in the morning upon waking up, in the car on the way to school, or randomly while making dinner, his parents constant and faithful recitation of these words planted powerful seeds in the heart of Juan. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” was more than a line from Scripture; it became the grounding truth that guided him through both personal and professional storms.

Answering the Call: From Entrepreneur to Catholic Innovator

In one especially memorable part of the interview, Juan opened up about how he bridged the gap between his Catholic upbringing and his work as an entrepreneur and technologist in Silicon Valley. Amid the high-speed, high-stakes world of tech startups, Juan sensed a void. Although he had grown successful as the COO for a major tech investor, he simultaneously felt a sense of emptiness. It was during a trip to Rome, where he was pitching a tech program for priests, the Holy Spirit provided him with a moment of clarity.

As he was seeking to further the business of another, a greater desire arose in his heart to serve a greater Master. In that moment, the vision for Tabella started to come into focus. The idea for Tabella had been planted in Juan’s heart years earlier when he was a teen, but it wasn’t until that moment in Rome that he fully understood its significance. He realized that God was calling him to create a platform that would build up Body of Christ, the Church, through investing in her many members. Through Tabella, Juan would serve the true Master and King, by using technology to support His bride, the Church.

Building Community with Tabella

Juan spoke about the early days of Tabella, which officially launched in March 2020—right as the pandemic hit. Suddenly, churches were closing, and people were more isolated than ever. This unexpected challenge only underscored the need for a digital platform where Catholics could come together all the more. From his home in Texas, Juan began building what has now become the #1 App for Parishes & Groups.

Tabella isn’t just a place to get Mass times or event reminders; it’s designed to create real community. Juan shared some inspiring stories, like the time a parish in Puerto Rico used Tabella to stay connected through the deathly hurricane a couple years ago. Parishioners used the app to share updates, offer prayers, and make sure everyone was safe. For Juan, these are the stories that define Tabella’s mission—to foster true Catholic community that goes beyond physical boundaries and invites the faithful into deeper communion in the Sacramental life.

A Reminder of Faith in the Little Things

As we wrapped up the interview, I couldn’t help but feel inspired. Juan’s journey is a powerful reminder that God is at work in even the smallest of details. Each prayer, each act of faith, each “yes” to God’s plan is a seed that can blossom in ways beyond our wildest imagination. For those of us building Tabella alongside him, his story is a reminder that our work isn’t just about technology—it’s about inviting others into communion with Christ and His Church.

Hearing Juan’s journey reaffirmed that the heart of Tabella is something much larger than any one of us. It’s a mission rooted in community, sustained by prayer, and driven by a desire to bring people closer to the Sacraments.