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
It’s ‘the place that everyone wants to be’: Why Techstars could be back in KC for more than just hugs
Five years after Techstars left Kansas City, the global startup accelerator’s co-founder and CEO teased a comeback for the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. “We’re going to try to figure out how to continue to be a part of the Kansas City startup community,” David Cohen told a crowd of founders, investors, advocates, and Techstars alumni Thursday…
A blank slate for whimsy (and work): Elevator opens doors to KC co-warehousing concept
A new co-warehousing space in North Kansas City is providing entrepreneurs like LaToya Ebony Sirls a manufacturing-ready environment that supports production — features the surging small business owner can’t get in a typical co-working setup, she said. Elevator — launched in 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska — expanded into the Kansas City market late last year….
Johnson County senior wins Congressional App Challenge with his school workflow workaround
Drake Semchyshyn turned a personal pain point at school into an award-winning app. The Blue Valley West senior created Catalyst — designed to improve students’ academic experience within Canvas, a widely used learning management system — winning the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Kansas’ Third District. “The Canvas student application basically manages grades, assignments, submissions,…
Nonprofit launching retail incubator for Asian-owned businesses; next up: a cultural district in Columbus Park
A new retail incubator in a former Columbus Park tattoo shop is expected to push forward the nonprofit mission of Hella Good Deeds — amplifying the Asian community in Kansas City — while boosting sales for Asian-owned, product-based businesses, said Béty Lê Shackelford. The vision for “Jade Market”: take over the recently-vacated Tiger Alley Tattoo…
Tech leader’s side story: Revisiting abandoned childhood dreams could help break cycles of abuse, incarceration
His storytelling startup uses artificial intelligence to craft visions of the future where children feel seen, but a new partnership with a courtroom support organization is extending Herson Fails’ mission — and magic — to adults, he said. Fails’ Six-Seven Experience aims to reconnect participants with their childhood dreams, align them with their current strengths,…
This startup veteran’s new roadway safety tool turns any smartphone into a work-zone inspector
Worker safety within high-traffic roadway construction zones is stalled in the 1970s, said founder Zikomo Fields, driving the vision for a 21st century approach that uses tech to hit the brakes on fatalities. “There’s not a lot of software that is ensuring that these work zones are set up correctly,” said Fields, CEO of Kansas…
AI without WiFi: Ag health innovator muzzles a gatekeeper soiling tech for rural ranchers
MyAnIML’s autonomous edge monitoring system is allowing ranchers to go (or stay) off the grid — addressing a primary barrier preventing them from adopting advanced agricultural technology, explained founder Shekhar Gupta. The Overland Park-based agtech startup — whose patented technology uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict a broad range of total health indicators…
811 Retail’s impact sells itself, incubator leader says; counter space opens for 5 entrepreneurs
The 811 Retail Incubator’s first 18 months met every expectation, Dan Smith shared, including proving The Porter House KC’s core theory: combining below-market retail space with real-world education creates a “learn while you earn” environment. A handful of spots within Kansas City’s first retail incubator have now reopened at 811 E. 31st St. after it…
Bin believer: Teen thrifting founder finds value, sorted by aesthetic (not sizes)
Rags Restyled 4u is selling more than just thrifted clothes, its 19-year-old founder shared; it’s using apparel stitched with self expression to give clothes a second life. “The end goal is really just to have a brand that makes a difference and makes people feel safe and comfortable and like they can fully be themselves,”…
Foodpreneur boot camp deploys ‘business in a box’ concept to prep builders for industry reality
A boot camp for Kansas entrepreneurs getting into the food industry works through a menu of resources they’ll need to turn a profit, said Tiffany Helton, emphasizing the program takes stock of business realities that might not always seem glamorous. “We get into nitty gritty — like licensing, business plan, marketing, financials, employees, company culture,”…