Where Are They Now? — Featuring Donald Ridings of Fat of the Land

When: 11.20.26, 1:00-2:00 PM
Where: Novaparke | 111 Innovation Pkwy, Georgetown
Format: “Fireside Chat” with a startup founder

What happens after you win the pitch competition?

Entrepreneurship is often told through the exciting moments: the big idea, the pitch, the funding, the launch. But what happens after the applause fades and it’s time to actually build the business?

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, join us at Novaparke for a special Where Are They Now? conversation with Donald Ridings, founder of Fat of the Land and the 2024 Grand Prize winner of The Next Big Thing Pitch Competition.

Donald will share what his entrepreneurial journey has looked like since stepping off the pitch competition stage—including the challenges, unexpected opportunities, lessons learned, and decisions that come with taking a growing business to its next level.

This conversation is designed to go beyond the highlight reel and explore the realities of what happens after you have a business idea and someone believes in it.

About Fat of the Land

Fat of the Land is an Indiana-based food brand founded by nurse and father Donald Ridings with a simple idea: create snacks using real, traditional ingredients and bring animal fats back into everyday cooking and snacking.

The company’s flagship product is a line of kettle-cooked potato chips made with 100% premium beef tallow instead of industrial seed oils. The brand launched in 2025 and has quickly gained momentum, expanding its product offerings and building relationships with retailers and distributors.

The idea began close to home. As a traveling nurse and father, Donald wanted to create a better snack option for his own family. He began testing his homemade chips in 2023, discovering that there was a much larger market for the idea than he initially expected. What started as an experiment grew into a business with products now reaching grocery stores and customers well beyond Southern Indiana.

Today, Fat of the Land offers tallow-cooked kettle chips in flavors including Simple Sea Salt, Back Porch BBQ, and Salt & Vinegar, with plans for continued product and market expansion.

From Pitch to Possibility

Donald’s story is a perfect example of why entrepreneurial ecosystems matter.

A pitch competition can provide funding, exposure, mentorship, and a moment of validation—but winning is only the beginning. The real work happens afterward: testing assumptions, responding to customers, finding partners, navigating growth, and figuring out what comes next.

Come hear Donald talk honestly about that journey and leave with a better understanding of what it takes to move from “I have an idea” to “I’m building a company.”

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a founder in the early stages, an established business owner, or simply curious about what entrepreneurship actually looks like behind the scenes, this conversation is for you.

Part of Global Entrepreneurship Week

This event is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), a worldwide celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the people building the future in communities around the globe.

The Root and Novaparke are proud to serve on the local GEW planning committee, helping bring entrepreneurs, founders, business leaders, and community members together throughout the week.

And this is just one of many events happening on Friday, November 20 at Novaparke and The Root in New Albany, with additional events taking place throughout the week.

Check out the full Global Entrepreneurship Week calendar to explore the lineup and register for the events you want to attend.

Come hear what happened after the pitch—and discover what might happen after yours.

FREE to attend events all day. The Day Pass purchase is if you’d like to sit and work and not attend the other events.