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
Scaling the fairway: GolfTRK’s sprawling new HQ on course without a trick shot, founders say
Albatross Golf — along with its flagship brands, GolfTRK and Noonan — is ready to move into its next chapter, co-founders Alex Reed and Matt Williams shared, with the completion of its expanded headquarters in Prairie Village just a couple short months away. “This is the right next step for us and where we’re headed,”…
Bracket bash winner nets $50K in pitch doubleheader; three KC startups score spots among final four
Kansas came in clutch Tuesday — doubling the grand prize pool for this week’s Gamechangers and Champions pitch competition just before tipoff. Its jersey-clad winner scored $50,000 and a top seed among investors gathered for the state’s bracket bash for emerging entrepreneurs. “When you’re in a startup business, money never hurts, non-dilutive money even more…
This diehard sports fan is pitching a new platform to get KC’s young athletes paid
NIL deals give student athletes a greater opportunity to financially benefit from their name, image, and likeness while in college, and now Chris Owings wants to extend that opportunity to Kansas City area youth athletes, he shared. “One of the things that really motivated me was when the Royals signed Jac Caglianone,” explained the founder…
Five-alarm to market: Vegan ice cream maker proves her treats can take the heat of competition
Fresh off a 24-hour shift at the fire station, Zoe Mays — founder of Scream Queens — rode a wave of adrenaline to victory at last week’s Food Biz Con pitch competition. Mays — a poet-turned-firefighter/paramedic-turned-entrepreneur — took home $5,000 for her vegan ice cream pop-up business, which she founded in 2024 after her girlfriend…
World Cup prep is writing KC’s history today, leaders say; here’s what they hope will be remembered after the games
Twelve years later, Graham Zusi still gets choked up talking about the emotions he felt after the U.S. soccer team triumphed over Ghana in the FIFA World Cup, and he saw scenes of hometown fans celebrating in the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City. “For Matt Besler and I — two Kansas City…
UMKC venture challenge is adding to its prize pool: Wisdom from seasoned entrepreneurs
A series of “Bloch Talks” during this spring’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge at UMKC is adding even more depth to a popular university event that’s expected to award $180,000 to student and community entrepreneurs, said Bryan Boots. Set for April 23 at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, five speakers are set to give…
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…