Christian Tech Entrepreneur Recognized for Leadership in SoCal Business Community
PRAY.COM Founder/CEO Steve Gatena Receives LA Times Executive Leadership Award
LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2025 – PRAY.COM Founder/CEO Steve Gatena was honored last week with the LA Times Executive Leadership Award in the category of Small Business Founder, recognizing his contributions to the Southern California business community – a rarity for the leader of a faith-based company.
The 2025 LA Executive Awards ceremony brought together some of the best and brightest stars in the city’s business world, recognizing those who have exemplified the spirit of being an effective leader, demonstrating resilience, growth, and wisdom within their respective fields. Fifteen categories of awards were presented, and the diverse nominees from across all segments of the L.A. business community – younger, older, of every race, gender, and creed – offered a true representation of the best of Southern California. The awards were given to those among the finalists who have shown true grace, growth and grit during the last 24 months in their respective fields, according to LA Times Executive Leadership Award officials.
Gatena was honored with the Small Business Founder award in recognition of his service as a distinguished entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of PRAY.COM, the world’s leading application for daily prayer and faith-based audio content. With a profound mission to grow faith and cultivate community, Gatena has guided PRAY.COM to remarkable success, becoming the only religious app to have completed clinical research on the efficacy of digitally enabled prayer on mental health. This is a testament to the company’s mission to grow faith, cultivate community, and leave a legacy of helping others.
“I am humbled by the LA Times Studios’ recognition, as it points to the impact PRAY.COM is having in our community and our world,” Gatena said. “This acknowledgement is a credit to our entire team and the amazing work they do helping people not only make prayer a priority but also realize the mental health benefits of engaging with the app at a time when 25% of our nation is struggling with some form of mental health challenge – either themselves or across their family.”
Driven by a commitment to innovation and societal impact, Gatena founded PRAY.COM following a pivotal experience in his own life, recognizing the immense potential of digital platforms to connect individuals with their faith. But the impact of PRAY.COM extends beyond spiritual enrichment; mental health studies conducted by the platform have demonstrated the positive benefits of app usage on user well-being. Furthermore, PRAY.COM is at the forefront of leveraging technology for greater good, partnering with Palantir to utilize AI to enhance the reach and operational efficiency of non-profit ministries, thereby amplifying their vital community work.
Under Gatena’s leadership, PRAY.COM has garnered numerous accolades, including being named a Best Place to Work by the Los Angeles Business Journal, a fastest-growing mental health app by SensorTower, and Inc. 5000’s fastest growing faith-based media and technology company in the United States. Gatena himself has been honored with CSQ Magazine’s “40 Under 40 Visionary Award.” In a notable recognition of his expertise, he was appointed by the President of the United States as a non-partisan advisor to the White House on cybersecurity matters.
With 20 years of industry experience, nine of which have been dedicated to building PRAY.COM, Gatena also contributes his expertise to organizations such as the USC Digital Media Management Board of Advisors and Beyond the Brotherhood, a nonprofit supporting Navy SEALs transitioning to civilian life.
For additional information, visit PRAY.COM.
About PRAY.COM
PRAY.COM is the world’s #1 app for daily prayer and faith-based audio content, designed to grow faith and cultivate community. With millions of active users worldwide, PRAY.COM provides innovative tools for prayer, meditation, and spiritual learning, supported by partnerships with leading faith leaders and communities around the globe.
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Melany Ethridge
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