Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves isn’t your typical chain restaurant mogul. Once a scrappy entrepreneur, he recently brought his signature “One Love” philosophy to a different kind of stage—ABC’s “Shark Tank.” But Graves isn’t just there for the TV thrill; he’s there to do what he does best: invest, mentor, and help aspiring business owners chase down their dreams, just like he did.
His episode aired October 25. Graves heard pitches from Topsail Steamer, a company offering seafood steam pots, known as Bay Buckets, for customers to cook at home; Life Raft Treats, a reimagining of nostalgic ice cream truck classics with a humorous, artisanal twist; RigStrips, a company specializing in innovative magnetic vehicle accessories designed for outdoor enthusiasts; and BucketGolf, a portable par 3 golf game.
The Raising Cane’s leader secured a deal with RigStrips and Topsail Steamer.
This isn’t Graves’ first time supporting fellow entrepreneurs. In 2020, he invested $2 million to assist independent restaurants and later starred in the Discovery+ series “Restaurant Recovery” in 2021, working to save family-owned concepts. After achieving his American Dream by building a chicken finger box combo into an empire expected to surpass $10 billion by the decade’s end, with more than 1,600 locations, Graves is dedicated to helping others reach their goals.
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His efforts go beyond business; Graves sees these media appearances as a way to boost brand awareness, foster loyalty among the “Caniacs,” and make a positive community impact.
“I’m a fan of ‘Shark Tank,’ but my goal is to grow Raising Cane’s. This was a great opportunity for so many viewers to learn more about the brand,” Graves says. “They may not have a Cane’s in their community yet, so this lets them see me in a different light and hear my story as I advise these entrepreneurs.”
In an industry where longtime founders actively engaged in their brands are increasingly rare, Graves values staying involved—attending media appearances, community events, and charity programs. He says he wants people to feel a genuine human connection with Raising Cane’s, which he believes drives the brand’s exceptional AUVs.
“The world today is full of big media, corporate ideas, and big advertising budgets, but people want connection,” Graves says. “They want to see the founder behind [Raising Cane’s], feel the human aspects. It’s named after my dog, who’s our mascot, and my family works in the business. Customers want to know I care about providing good, safe food and friendly service. They want to see that I care about my crew and aim to give back to the community.”
Beyond high-profile media appearances like “Shark Tank,” Graves hosts community events to reach more people. For Halloween, he unveiled the world’s largest pumpkin (weighing 2,471 pounds, or 20,000 Chicken Fingers) at Nights of the Jack in Los Angeles, where it served as the main attraction for families and guests.
The pumpkin featured Halloween-inspired Raising Cane’s iconography, carved by Food Network champions Eric Jones, Monique Hawk, and William Wilson. It embodies the brand’s “One Love” philosophy, transforming Graves’ love for Halloween into a platform for personal storytelling and brand awareness.
“Los Angeles is the nation’s second-largest designated market area, so I wanted the Raising Cane’s pumpkin here, where everyone can come and enjoy it,” Graves says. “We have a real passion for what we do. This pumpkin doesn’t need to be at my house—I want people to experience it, creating an authentic connection with the brand. The best marketers in the world can’t manufacture that authenticity.”
Whether advising young entrepreneurs on franchising on “Shark Tank” or showing off a giant pumpkin in jeans and a T-shirt, Graves emphasizes the importance of sharing Raising Cane’s magic with audiences of all kinds. While the immediate marketing benefits are valuable, he believes it’s the long-term relationships with guests that drive the brand’s success.
“I used to pitch my brand every day and get turned down, so I know what that feels like,” Graves says. “’Shark Tank’ is wildly popular, with so many aspiring entrepreneurs watching, so I wanted to connect with a large audience. But more than that, everything is so routine these days … [the pumpkin party] shows kids there’s still magic in the world. If they want to start a chicken finger restaurant someday, they can.”
