Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
Reporter, Startland News
Nikki brings to Startland News both community journalism and entrepreneurship experience and she loves being able to tell the inspiring stories of fellow creatives and risk-takers.
Before joining Startland News, she worked for over 10 years writing and editing for daily newspapers in Lawrence, Topeka, Duluth, Minnesota, and Park Hills, Missouri. She took a short hiatus from journalism to pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef and starting her own baking business.
Recent Stories by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
No height limit for entrepreneurship: Kansas nonprofit boosts children’s business literacy
“We look at every child as a leader right now,” said Leah Ellis, founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs, “and ask them what they want to see happening in their community today, rather than kicking the can down the road until they're older or taller.”
This 45-year-old Missouri brand became an unexpected TikTok star (and earned its team $1M in bonuses)
Social media turned a Smithville, Missouri-based, family-owned business into an overnight sensation; now the tight-knit team behind the viral odor eliminator is trying to preserve the scent of success.
Host cities steer into World Cup headwinds: ‘We didn’t work 10 years for this to be a flop,’ KC tourism leader says
Whether visitors come from across the country or around the globe, Kansas City is prepared to land the plane when the World Cup arrives this summer, said Kathy Nelson, acknowledging geopolitical strife and President Trump’s visa policy are making the U.S. a less attractive destination for international travelers.
Archia boosts safe AI adoption for companies struggling to link the tech to solutions they really need
“Think of it as an agent operating system,” Gharib Gharibi explained. “We built it from the ground up to make sure that security and privacy is baked in and not added after the fact to the system.”
Oak Park Mall wants local makers shut out by Painted Tree’s closure to find new home alongside national retailers
“We know shoppers love discovering local makers,” said Oak Park’s Karla Rocker Engel, “and at the same time, much of our traffic is driven by well‑known national brands. Our goal is to bridge that gap by giving local businesses the opportunity to tap into that built‑in audience and benefit from the incredible foot traffic our...
‘This is a different type of founder’: LaunchKC reveals latest social venture cohort
Kansas City’s startup community has helped Trina Nudson feel seen and understood as an emerging entrepreneur, the Be Aligned founder shared. A spot in this year’s Social Venture Studio cohort could help her dig even deeper into the business realities of the unknown, she said. “I’m an attorney, and if you turn to a fellow…
‘This is legacy work’: DeLaSalle Learning Farm keeps growing as students trade sweat for spoils of the soil
An empty one-acre field next to DeLaSalle High School is blooming into an urban learning farm that will nourish both the students and the neighboring Troost Corridor community.
Home buyers, sellers should keep more of their money, KC-built proptech startup says
“We're not anti-agent,” said founder Phillip Allen, who led the H&R Block team that developed Rapid Refund, the first electronic tax filing system. “We're anti-the abusive fees that go along with it.”
Cerner co-founder: ‘We always seemed to be in the right place at the right time’
Never underestimate the power of good luck among entrepreneurs, serial founder Cliff Illig told a crowd during a fireside chat that touched on the journey to Cerner’s $28.3 billion exit.
Jade Market launches incubator for Asian retailers amid vision to build cultural, business hub in KC
A small group of Asian entrepreneurs leading product-based businesses are getting an opportunity to brush up on their retail readiness in Hella Good Deeds’ inaugural Jade Market Cohort.