Raising Cane's Founder Todd Graves joins ABC's Shark Tank

Louisiana's own Raising Cane's founder and owner Todd Graves will be joining the 16th season of ABC's "Shark Tank" as a guest shark. The hit business-themed show features entrepreneurs making business presentations to a panel of five venture capitalists called "sharks," who listen their pitch and then decide whether or not to invest in their companies.

His appearance was announced on the show's official Instagram account, which Graves also reposted as well. Graves will be a guest shark alongside regulars Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec and Daniel Lubetzky. Other guest sharks this season include: Jamie Kern Lima, co-founder of IT Cosmetics and host of "The Jamie Kern Lima Show," Rashaun Williams, venture capitalist and Atlanta Falcons limited partner, and jewelry designer, Kendra Scott.

The Baton Rouge native came up for the idea for Raising Cane's while back in college. He wrote a business plan for Raising Cane's in a business planning class, which his teacher gave a B-minus.

After being rejected by various investors several times, Graves saved his money working in commerical fishing for sockeye salmon in Alaska and as a boilermaker at a refinary in Los Angeles. He then returned to Baton Rouge open the first Cane's location on the steps of LSU's campus in Baton Rouge in 1996.

To date, Raising Cane's currently has over 800 locations in the United States, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. In 2023, Bloomberg estimated Grave's net worth at $7.6 billion, making him the wealthiest person in the state of Louisiana.

Photo byBusiness Report

Graves said, “I remember how it felt when I was first starting out with Raising Cane’s and not many believed in me or my vision, and I wish I had a Shark to give me advice and guidance. I want to be that person and change the narrative for these entrepreneurs by helping them achieve the American Dream, just like I have.

The new season of "Shark Tank" will premiere on Thursday, October 17th on ABC.