Ravens rookie Ja'Kobi Lane invests in Baltimore cleat startup Caddix
What's the deal? Baltimore-based cleat startup CaddixDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has raised angel funding from Ravens rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane, the company announced Wednesday. Lane joins former Ravens Joe Flacco, Todd Heap, and Dennis Pitta, plus soccer player Kayla Sharples, as investors. Caddix builds cleats designed to limit lower-body injuries.
Why now? Lane discovered Caddix ahead of the 2026 NFL combine, then landed in Baltimore months later when the Ravens drafted him in the third round.
The pitch was unusual. NikeDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and AdidasDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → offered to pay Lane to become a brand ambassador; he turned them down and put a portion of his rookie salary into the startup instead.
Founder Jack Rasmussen told Lane early on that Caddix would not pay athletes to wear its cleats, unable to match larger brands' endorsement offers. He offered equity instead.
Why he switched: Lane has a history of foot problems, including a broken foot in May 2025 that limited his junior season at USC. He said the cleats eased the strain on his joints.
"I just feel like there's a lot less pressure on my knees and ankles after working out," Lane said. At the combine, he wore Nike for the 40-yard dash and switched to Caddix's low-cut cleats for receiver drills.
What's the endgame? Rasmussen founded Caddix after concluding that football cleats contribute to preventable injuries. His design lets cleats give way when an athlete plants and cuts, rather than locking into the ground.
The connection ran through Heap, whose son quarterbacked Lane in high school and who vouched for Lane to Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta during the draft.
"I think Ja'Kobi saw it as an opportunity," Rasmussen said. "He's trying to increase his long-term wealth and portfolio. That's very impressive for a guy of his age and position in this world to do."
The signal: Athletes are increasingly trading endorsement checks for equity, betting on ownership over one-off payouts. Caddix's roster of current and former players suggests a startup building credibility through the people its product is designed to protect.
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
