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
Sandlot Goods takes a swing at a brick and mortar; new JoCo storefront expected to be a home run with brand’s fans
Sandlot Goods — Kansas City’s only local hat manufacturer — is hoping to score big with its first, dedicated, standalone retail space. The new location at Park Place in Leawood — 11530 Ash Street — is slated for a soft opening Aug. 15 and a grand opening Sept. 16, shared Garret Prather, Sandlot vice president…
She witnessed short-staffed hospitals as a COVID patient; How her ‘Airbnb for health care workers’ could save lives like hers
After her own hospitalization with COVID-19, Shapree’ Marshall set out to make sure local hospitals have adequate staffing to care for the community, she shared. In February 2022, Marshall — now a 2023 Pipeline Pathfinder cohort member — founded A Traveled Path Homes, which she describes as Airbnb for the medical industry. She plans to…
Athletes to angels: Startup player switches teams, leaving his venture to help connect founders to capital
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 — As a fellow founder, Jacob O’Connor can offer empathy in his new role within the NXTUS angel investor syndicate, he shared. After graduating from Wichita State University in…
On-demand stylist app brings the salon to your door, books gigs for beauty professionals
The luxury of on-demand salon services in the convenience of your own home is now available to the Kansas City community, Ruth Shrauner shared. The Poshed On The Go app officially launched July 18 after a “wild, awesome, crazy ride” of a year for the Shawnee-based founder and CEO and her team. “Exciting, surreal, scary,…
MVP in his field: Royals groundskeeper earns his own bobblehead for keeping The K green amid ups and downs
For the club’s first-ever Ag Night, the Kansas City Royals are celebrating — and bestowing the honor of a bobblehead — on their very own farmer. That’s what Trevor Vance — who has been keeping the field at Kauffman Stadium perfectly manicured for nearly 40 years — considers himself and other groundskeepers, he shared. “We’re…
‘Neon Alley’ turning on 40 historic KC signs at Pennway Point, lighting the way to new entertainment district
The planned Pennway Point entertainment district near the Crossroads and Union Station soon will be awash in the glow of neon history, said Nick Vedros. “What’s more Kansas City than to have all these great signs that were once part of our city’s historical fabric all in one spot?” said Vedros, teasing the future Lumi…
Don’t sleep on ‘Barbie’, KC theater owner warns as Barbenheimer blockbuster arrives
‘Barbenheimer’ could bring best movie-going weekend in nearly a decade; How KC theaters are getting dolled up for the blockbuster Local theaters are expecting a blockbuster weekend, thanks to a highly anticipated and unlikely double feature opening Thursday. Dubbed “Barbenheimer,” the high-profile films “Barbie” — a fictionalized focus on the doll-turned-fashion icon — and “Oppenheimer”…
Full circle: Coffee shop and cocktail bar serve hometown hangout vibes thirsty locals won’t want to leave
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. This percolating day-night hotspot might not feel like it belongs in Topeka, owners say, but the uncompromising space is what the neighborhood deserves TOPEKA — Capitol City natives David Vincent…
Made in KC’s trolley cafe gets a new driver: Iconic Kansas City brand set to reopen space in August
The Made In KC Trolley in River Market — a full service cafe within a vintage, refurbished Kansas City streetcar — is winding down its run this weekend; next aboard the repurposed artifact of local history: Donutology. After being approached by Made In KC about the opportunity, Donutology will take over the trolley cafe July…
It started as a T-shirt company (now it’s a popular cheesecake destination); meet the nonprofit that helped this Kansas biz pivot
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. This series is possible thanks to Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. WICHITA — Side hustles don’t…