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Founders

#383 Todd Graves and his $10 Billion Chicken Finger Dream

Mar 17, 2025
Todd Graves shares his incredible journey from a college project to leading a $10 billion fast-food empire, focusing solely on chicken fingers. Despite countless rejections and challenges, he emphasized resilience and a simple philosophy: do one thing and do it better than anyone else. His unique approach prioritizes quality, operational simplicity, and crew well-being, fostering an innovative work culture. From leveraging personal stakes to navigating crises like Hurricane Katrina, Todd's story inspires aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams relentlessly.
01:08:07

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Quick takeaways

  • Todd Graves exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit by overcoming skepticism and adversity to build Raising Cane's into a billion-dollar brand.
  • The success of Raising Cane's is attributed to its focused menu, demonstrating that excelling at one thing enhances quality and customer loyalty.

Deep dives

The Importance of Staying in the Details

Successful entrepreneurs often emphasize the significance of being detail-oriented in their businesses. Todd Graves, founder of Raising Cane's, illustrates this by sharing insights from his friend's billion-dollar shipping company, where attention to even small costs, such as bottled water, is critical. This mindset aligns with historical figures like Andrew Carnegie, who viewed cost control as an obsession. Graves argues that the success of his own venture is rooted in his deep understanding of every aspect of his business, a principle embodied by Ramp's expense management solutions.

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