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
Taking note: After sharing 20,000+ letters, the writing is clear; everyone’s carrying a burden
Kasim Hardaway developed Take What You Need, a public, interactive installation of 40 different letters that he wrote — labeled with phrases like “to the one who doubts their own worth” or “to the one who needs to let go” — inviting passersby to choose the letter that speaks best to them at that moment...
Royals sketch Crown Center concept for neighbors ahead of city planners’ vote; critics want it on the ballot
Questions remain about the Kansas City Royals’ plan to build a $3 billion baseball district at Crown Center after a community engagement meeting on rezoning parts of the neighborhood descended into shouting over project financing details and who ultimately would foot the bill.
Benditt Like Balm Box: World Cup isn’t over for this KC entrepreneur; she’s competing for $20K
Liz Benditt hasn’t earned a trophy for surviving cancer six times, but her rebound did inspire the Kansas City area mom to launch Balm Box — thoughtful support boxes for cancer recovery. Now Benditt’s nearly 20-year entrepreneur journey is taking her to Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final. But first, she must take the pitch Friday.
Sports leaders who tied their legacies to World Cup: KC businesses, fans impressed the world
Kansas City seized its moment in the international spotlight, said Clark Hunt, sweeping aside what he called past concerns about FIFA World Cup economic impact and visitor projections to laud work on the ground by local officials, entrepreneurs and fans.
American dream at 250: Why these immigrant entrepreneurs say the payoff is a country where everyone fits on the front porch
Any journey into the world of business can be as lonely as it is grueling, said Isaac Tapia and Rico Alvarez, and that’s before building in the complexities of navigating those challenges as an immigrant entrepreneur. The muralist duo feels blessed for the camaraderie they share. “With everything that’s happening right now at this very…
Privacy-first startup reimagines how cities, enterprises access real-world intelligence
As AI moves beyond screens and into streets, buildings, and logistics networks, Surge meets real-world demands by providing data delivered continuously and in real time to build an infrastructure layer that smart cities and autonomous systems actually need to function, its founders said.
Missouri notched big wins for entrepreneurs in 2026, but work remains, advocates report
Missouri is finally seeing renewed and sustained political momentum around entrepreneurship, Jason Wiens told town hall attendees gathered for an update on the Show-Me State’s recent wins around entrepreneur support.
Bootleg Bourbon Balls reveals its secret to World Cup chocolate (and booze) lovers
With its decadent flavors and speakeasy past, Kansas City holds a secret, said Lisa Fitch. And she’s eager to share it this summer — one bourbon ball at a time — as visitors like Netherlands’ Orange Army descend on the region.
Small Biz to Watch: Yates & Yates builds from dirt through a sale (with stability, not just dollars in mind)
Watching Kansas City become more than its past is exciting, Nicole Yates said. Participating in that growth is even better, the co-founder of Yates & Yates Co. continued. “There is so much investment,” she explained. “And there are so many people that are really trying to build something that matters, and I’m just grateful that…
Small Biz to Watch: SewKC patches together custom path to growth, sports collaborations
Behind the scenes at a tiki-themed coffee shop in the Crossroads, one couple is stitching together a small business strategy that combines high-profile specialty apparel projects with professional sports organizations and live sew-on-the-go activations in the community.