Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers started in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The first restaurant was located near the LSU campus at the intersection of Highland Road and State Street. It was founded by Todd Graves and Craig Silvey who developed the concept while in college. The chain is named after Graves's yellow Labrador dog, Raising Cane. The original location, often referred to as "The Mothership," remains a symbolic place for the brand.