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
These KC students just won $50K for their school’s STEM efforts — and exhibit space in Science City
Winning the $50,000 grand prize at Burns & McDonnell’s Battle of the Brains competition made for the best school day ever, shared Reese Moreno, a member of the victorious Delta Woods Middle School team. “This is mind blowing,” she explained Tuesday after the awards ceremony at Union Station in Kansas City. “The moment they announced…
What if they connected: New leader wants to use puppets to give toddlers their first arts experience
Amanda Kibler has long admired What If Puppets, the nonprofit’s new executive director shared. “It’s a great company,” she said of the Kansas City arts institution known for years as the Mesner Puppet Theater. “I’m just over the moon to be involved. I’ve been saying for a long time, it’s the one company in town…
Her fund targets investments for women of color; why this VC is fighting a lawsuit that would curb equity-focused funding
The fight for equity — especially among Black and brown entrepreneurs — isn’t easily won, said Ayana Parsons, likening the setback-laden struggle to a boxing match that seemingly never ends. “There are many rounds,” Parsons recently told a Kansas City crowd gathered at Burns & McDonnell’s campus for an event to honor diverse legacies. Parsons’…
KC Restaurant Week breaks down silos between diners, Kansas City’s chef-driven food scene
One of Johnson County’s favorite destination culinary experiences is back on the menu for Kansas City Restaurant Week, a 10-day showcase of innovative tastes from kitchens across the metro. “It helps the food industry,” said Laura Favela, executive chef at Silo Modern Farmhouse, said of the highly-anticipated, post-holidays event series. “The second goal is to…
Construction tech startup built for the job site, cementing quality data into infrastructure
A veteran Kansas City startup duo’s latest project — Tractics — is set to disrupt an in-demand, yet underserved, market with its construction management platform for heavy civil contractors. “True disruption occurs when behavior changes and I think we found an opportunity to change behavior in a positive way and continue to innovate in a…
After startup’s failure, founder looks inward to rebuild faith in himself as an entrepreneur
ST. LOUIS — In his first go-round as an entrepreneur, Brad Starnes lost himself in his startup, he shared. This time, the 2021 UMKC Student Entrepreneur of the Year and former Splitsy co-founder is building a startup around authenticity and his own personal brand. “Going into the beginning of 2023, I realized that who I…
Small Biz Superstars shines light on entrepreneurs in the shadows; Nominations open now
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. Being designated a Small Business Superstar in 2023 provided much needed visibility for The Scented Webb, Victoria Campbell Osborne shared. She credits the program with helping to…
2024 Startups to Watch: Love Lifesciences injects momentum as region doubles down on healthtech
Editor’s note: Startland News editors selected 10 Kansas City scaling businesses to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. Now in its ninth year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest, most compelling news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2024’s companies….
2024 Startups to Watch: Mpruv Sports swings for greater inclusion in traditional athletics
Editor’s note: Startland News editors selected 10 Kansas City scaling businesses to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. Now in its ninth year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest, most compelling news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2024’s companies….
2024 Startups to Watch: EB Systems tracking toward mainstream adoption at major events across KC, US
Editor’s note: Startland News editors selected 10 Kansas City scaling businesses to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. Now in its ninth year, this feature recognizes founders and startups that editors believe will make some of the biggest, most compelling news in the coming 12 months. The following is one of 2024’s companies….