# Jaqui Rice Gold

> Jaqui Rice Gold is the co-founder and CEO of G.O.A.T. Fuel, a health-forward sports energy drink she launched in January 2020 with her father, NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, and her husband Trevion Gold. Built as the first Black-owned energy drink to lean on cordyceps mushrooms instead of sugar and synthetic stimulants, the brand grew from a pandemic-era direct-to-consumer scramble into a nationally distributed product in tens of thousands of retail doors, with sponsorship deals spanning the Los Angeles Lakers and the WNBA's Chicago Sky.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at G.O.A.T. Fuel, Inc.
- **Organizations:** G.O.A.T. Fuel, Inc., Tressly
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A., Government, Georgetown University, Enrolled (law study), Fordham University School of Law
- **Known for:** Co-founded and leads G.O.A.T. Fuel, widely described as the first Black-owned energy drink brand, Pioneered use of cordyceps (adaptogen) mushrooms in a mainstream U.S. energy drink, Secured G.O.A.T. Fuel as the Official Energy Drink of the Los Angeles Lakers

## Career timeline

- **pre-2020** — Founded Tressly, an online peer-to-peer marketplace for buying and selling hair extensions
- **2020** — Co-founded G.O.A.T. Fuel in January with father Jerry Rice and husband Trevion Gold; launched as CEO
- **2020** — Pivoted to direct-to-consumer sales after a major GNC/retail deal froze during the pandemic
- **2021** — G.O.A.T. Fuel becomes the Official Energy Drink of the Los Angeles Lakers
- **2024** — Closed additional funding (Seed round reported by Dallas Innovates); expanded national retail distribution
- **2025** — Company reported total funding around $22M; former 49ers TE Vernon Davis invested; partnership with WNBA's Chicago Sky

## Achievements

- Co-founded and leads G.O.A.T. Fuel, widely described as the first Black-owned energy drink brand
- Pioneered use of cordyceps (adaptogen) mushrooms in a mainstream U.S. energy drink
- Secured G.O.A.T. Fuel as the Official Energy Drink of the Los Angeles Lakers
- Landed the WNBA's Chicago Sky as an official energy drink partner
- Grew distribution to 16,000-20,000+ retail doors including 7-Eleven, Walmart, Target, Publix, HEB, QuikTrip, Crunch Fitness and Gold's Gym
- Raised multiple millions in venture funding (reported figures from $12M to ~$22M)

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Forbes profiled the father-daughter partnership; company reported total funding around $22M and 16,000+ retail doors.
- **2025-08** — Former NFL tight end Vernon Davis invested in G.O.A.T. Fuel.
- **2024-02** — Company completed a reported Seed funding round (last raised Feb 2024) to accelerate growth from its Plano, Texas base.

## Links

- Website: https://goatfuel.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaquirice/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/goatfuel
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/goatfuel

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jaqui-gold
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-01