Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Recent Articles by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Byrd: How the Silicon Prairie can avoid Silicon Valley’s diversity issues

February 16, 2016

When Google and Intel first released their employment statistics in 2014, the topic of diversity was nowhere as elevated as it is today in corporate circles. Silicon Valley and its many companies from large tech giants down to startups are under the diversity and inclusion microscope. Why all of the emphasis on diversity? Demographically our…

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State of Entrepreneurship to tackle national ‘startup deficit’

February 16, 2016

In her second address to the nation, Kauffman Foundation CEO Wendy Guillies on Wednesday will present the seventh-annual “State of Entrepreneurship Address.” Guillies will travel to the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to address the nation’s long-term decline in new business creation, which has created a so-called “startup deficit.” Guillies, who was appointed as…

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LaunchCode kicks off Kansas City office with $250K boost

February 12, 2016

Fresh off its expansion to Kansas City, LaunchCode will tap additional capital from the Missouri Technology Corporation to boost its operations focused on tech workforce development. [pullquote]Founded in 2013, LaunchCode now partners with a variety of Kansas City companies — including EyeVerify, UMB, Blooom and Venture360 — to provide a new pipeline of homegrown tech…

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Innovation officer confident KC can nab $50M transportation grant

February 11, 2016

The City of Fountains has a solid shot at landing a $50 million award that could transform its transportation system. At least that’s what Kansas City’s new chief innovation officer Bob Bennett believes. Bennett, who started his tenure as Kansas City’s second innovation officer in January, said that the city’s openness to new technology situates…

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Events Preview: Second Fridays, coding weekend

February 11, 2016

There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter or curious Kansas Citian, we’d recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW Second Fridays When: February 12 @ 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm Where: Village Square Coworking Studio Second Fridays is simply a casual,…

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UMKC, Blue Springs schools testing entrepreneurship class

February 11, 2016

The University of Missouri-Kansas City wants to play matchmaker between high school students and entrepreneurship. UMKC announced Wednesday that it’s partnering with the Blue Springs School District to test an entrepreneurship course for both high school students and community members. The course, which aims to introduce students to opportunities in entrepreneurship, is available for credit…

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Dickson: Kansas City’s ‘show me’ mentality is stagnating its startups

February 11, 2016

Editor’s note: Net-zero home-building startup Acre Designs, which found its start in Kansas City, recently entered the world’s best business accelerator program: Y Combinator. After facing a tepid investor market in Kansas City, the company will be staying in the San Francisco area after the program’s conclusion. Kansas City fosters an enviable work ethic, steady…

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This Kansas City startup is in the world’s best accelerator: Y Combinator

February 10, 2016

Acre Designs, a net-zero, home-building startup that found its start in Kansas City, is now honing its model in arguably the world’s top business accelerator. San Francisco-based Y Combinator in January welcomed Acre into its 2016 accelerator program. Y Combinator — an early investor in such companies as Airbnb, Dropbox, Reddit, Disqus and others —…

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The WTF series: 6 common computing languages

February 9, 2016

On a daily basis, Ben Kittrell translates the jargon-filled world of technology for clients of his tech consultancy. The Words that Frustrate (WTF) series aims to offer readers some clarity in an industry dominated by techies’ confusing argot.   If you want to see a bloodbath, lock a .NET and a Java programmer in the…

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Dundee, Lewis & Clark VCs aim to raise Kansas City’s risk capital tide

February 9, 2016

Kansas City boasts a hearty roster of attractive early-stage investment opportunities. And that’s why two Midwestern venture capital firms with fresh funds are making the Kansas City area a key part of their investment strategies. Both Omaha-based Dundee Venture Capital and St. Louis-based Lewis & Clark Ventures are eyeing Kansas City-area startups for deals varying…

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