On average, people wait 11 years before seeking mental health support.

David Black is building to make that number zero.

This week, we’re excited to spotlight David, CEO and Co-Founder of Cabana, one of the builders driving meaningful change from within The Shop community.

Cabana is a behavioral health navigation and daily support platform designed to help people access the right care faster and stay supported in between clinical visits. In a system that is often fragmented, delayed, and overwhelming to navigate, Cabana is creating a more human and accessible path to care, one that meets people where they are.

The mission behind the venture is deeply personal. After losing his father to cancer, David experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to ask for help.

I struggled after I lost my dad to cancer and went a year before I even spoke to anyone about my loss. When you zoom out, people wait an average of 11 years to seek mental health support. That’s the number I’m trying to eliminate.

What began as a personal experience has evolved into a much larger vision. Today, Cabana is entering a new phase of growth, recently relocating its headquarters to Louisiana and partnering with medical practices to launch a new model of care that prioritizes engagement and readiness, not just diagnosis.

But building something like this doesn’t happen in isolation.

David chose The Shop Workspace for the same reason many founders do: the energy.

We wanted to be close to other builders. There’s a real buzz here that makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger than just your own company.

That sense of momentum extends beyond the workspace. Through The Shop, David and the Cabana team have built meaningful connections across New Orleans, opening the door to collaboration and growth.

For David, that’s what makes The Shop special.

The Shop is a space that builds success by uniting communities and the builders within them.

We’re proud to have David and the Cabana team as part of The Shop community and excited to see how they continue to reshape access to mental health care, starting in Louisiana and expanding far beyond. Learn more about Cabana here.

Interested in building alongside founders like David? Join The Shop community to grow your venture and connect with New Orleans’ entrepreneurial ecosystem here.