Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Recent Articles by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

‘Do I have to introduce myself?’ Meet Startland News’ new managing editor

November 23, 2015

Allow me to introduce … myself. My name is Kat Hungerford, Startland News’ new managing editor. As I type this, I’m sitting at a trendy desk in Village Square Coworking Studio at the heart of the Kansas City Startup Village, and I’m still astonished that I somehow wandered into what I’m quickly discovering is that…

Read More

O’Neill-Rauber: How my business failure begot confidence

November 19, 2015

I recently closed a business. Walking away, I feel a little lighter, a bit nostalgic, more confident and a lot smarter. My business was an online clothing store called TallChicksRule.com. Great name, right? If you know a female taller than 5’9”, you likely know the plight of tall fashionistas. I’m here to assure you: The struggle is real.…

Read More

Events Preview: Global Entrepreneurship Week Continues

November 19, 2015

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 GEW is packed full of events for entrepreneurs of every stripe. We’ve hand-selected the events geared towards tech, early-stage businesses, education and…

Read More

The ‘world’s biggest coworking studio’ is coming to Kansas City

November 18, 2015

Hoping to capitalize on a homegrown, entrepreneurial Renaissance, the new Westport Commons project will soon house what’s being billed as the largest coworking studio on earth. Kansas City Sustainable Development Partners has partnered with Lenexa-based coworking studio Plexpod to redevelop the 160,000 square-foot Westport Middle School into a coworking space. The school — located on the…

Read More

Blooom wins Kauffman Foundation pitch bout, $10K

November 18, 2015

Can anything stop Blooom? Continuing its streak of wins and successes, the financial tech firm on Wednesday morning won a national pitch contest at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Leawood-based Blooom beat out four other finalists in the inaugural One in a Million pitch contest, which initially drew more than 350 applicants. Blooom survived several…

Read More

And then there was one: Blooom the sole local firm left in national pitch contest

November 17, 2015

Financial tech startup Blooom is the lone Kansas City-area company to advance in the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s “One in a Million” pitch competition Out of an initial field of more than 350 companies, the Leawood-based firm advanced to the final round of five in the foundation’s pitch contest. The competition, which will conclude the…

Read More

Kansas City’s ‘Bean Baron’ brews entrepreneur of the year award

November 17, 2015

Kansas City’s so-called “Bean Baron” was recently named a top entrepreneur in the region.  The University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch School on Monday dubbed Roasterie founder Danny O’Neill as the Regional Entrepreneur of the Year. O’Neill, who launched the specialty coffee producer in 1993, accepted the award Monday evening as part of a Global Entrepreneurship Week…

Read More

Kansas City Startup Weekend crowns new champion LoopLogiq

November 16, 2015

A whirlwind of a weekend produced a startup champion that hopes to revamp the world of customer relationship management. Kansas City Startup Weekend, a competition in which teams frantically develop and refine a business idea in 54 hours, crowned LoopLogiq as its champion Sunday. The company’s customer relationship management system (CRM) aims to help companies…

Read More

Fund me KC: COPR Security Innovations

November 16, 2015

Startland News is continuing its new segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses.  This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to share their stories to gain a little help from their supporters. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com Who: Geoff Miles, Founder of…

Read More

Fund me KC: Mobility Designed

November 13, 2015

Startland News is continuing its new segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses.  This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to share their stories to gain a little help from their supporters. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com   Who: Liliana Younger, CEO…

Read More