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
Young mom’s apparel for crawling babies wins best fit for UMKC Side Hustle Challenge
Riley Rhoads knows firsthand how overwhelming it is to shop for baby clothes, the University of Missouri-Kansas City student and new mother shared, so she created a product to help fellow moms. Hold Tight Baby — Rhoads’ venture that earned her first place at UMKC’s Side Hustle Challenge — makes pants for crawling babies. The…
Power & Light: $10M in Live! Block upgrades planned before downtown’s Big 12 ‘opening day’
The Kansas City Live! Block in the Power & Light District — a place KCMO Councilman Crispen Rea calls the living room of Kansas City — is set for a $10 million upgrade, local business and civic leaders announced Thursday. Key updates also target the popular District nightclub Mosaic. “It’s become an engine that generates…
Kansas City company becomes the gameday go-to collaborator for celebrity-jammed events
Teaming up with the Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation for events — like the recent Kelce Car Jam in the Crossroads — is an incredible opportunity for Kansas City’s Platinum XP to showcase its capabilities and build a reputation as a top creative collaborator, said Lauren Rios. “Platinum XP has the opportunity to work with many…
This entrepreneur jams Special Olympics advocacy (and a little chicory) into his Missouri storefront
Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. EDINA, Missouri — Jared Niemeyer started making homemade jam to…
Photos: ARtechBBQ party gets the beer cheese flowing with a salted pretzel tech twist
Sweater weather returned Friday night alongside Kansas City’s premiere after-hours celebration of tech, and ARtechBBQ organizer Greg Kratofil couldn’t have been happier, he said. “How about this being back in the fall?” Kratofil asked a crowd of well-fed revelers at the party within the party on the grounds of the Kansas Speedway. ARtechBBQ — now…
Family’s mission, deeply woven ties to artisan community in Mexico loom high for Nov. 8 showcase
Two-in-one purpose: 50 blankets become 25 tops for this Crossroads shop, weaving warmth into the fiber of runway event A cloak-like coat that Jonathan Garvey’s brother designed for him as a Christmas present has inspired a new collection and a fashion show, the Pancho’s Blanket co-founder shared. The Repurpose Collection is set to debut 7…
Capital connector’s message to women: Your investor pool isn’t just sharks; dive in and learn to swim
When it comes to navigating the waters of capital and equity, Women’s Capital Connection angel investment network and the Women’s Business Center serve as a guide to both entrepreneurs and investors, Kelly Sievers shared. “All the education that we do and all the connections that we make, I would say that’s really the key,” explained…
Social studies to social venture: Missouri teen’s micro business helps students across the globe
Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. ST. LOUIS — It wasn’t an entrepreneurship course that…
Ice rinks to skee-ball: Phase 1 of this massive sports entertainment complex opening in JoCo after 20 years in the works
Once completed: ‘You’ll come here for a three-day weekend and not see your car until you leave on Sunday’ With its highly-anticipated opening this weekend, a sprawling new sports and recreation complex in south Johnson County is expected to soon spark fights between parents over who gets to take their kid to the weekend tournament,…
Bill Nye: We’re all born scientists — most people just get distracted; here’s how the ‘Science Guy’ thinks critical thinking can make the world better
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. WICHITA, Kansas — Even with a looming (and divisive) election within weeks, the impacts of severe weather becoming more clear, and an increasingly uncertain future written within online algorithms, now…