Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Recent Articles by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Listen: How does Kansas City regard failure?

October 23, 2015

In the entrepreneurial world, the word “failure” takes many definitions. For some entrepreneurs, failure is a badge of honor, while for others it’s taboo. Regardless, failure is a part of reality amongst startups and it’s a topic that’s been examined at length in Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community. KCUR’s Up To Date recently hosted Startland editor-in-chief Bobby Burch, Pipeline Inc.…

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Events Preview: Compute Midwest, Shark Tank

October 22, 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 Compute Midwest When: October 22 – 23 Where: Municipal Arena Over a thousand remarkable people from around the globe will converge in…

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Lager: Why I quit my cushy job for a broke startup

October 22, 2015

It’s 4:03 a.m. My bedroom is still dark and the late August heat leaves me little need for a blanket. I lay here wide-awake, arms crossed behind my head on a pillow that’s too thin, while the rest of the world sleeps in deep peacefulness. I hear nothing, save for the wind occasionally singing outside…

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90 on the Clock with Mighty Handle

October 21, 2015

90 on the Clock with Mighty Handle  By John McGrath, KCPT, and Bobby Burch, Startland News Ed’s Note: Flatland and Startland News have partnered to highlight Kansas City’s innovators and entrepreneurs, all in 90 seconds. This is the fifth and final episode in the series. Think of Mighty Handle as your digital defender. No, Mighty Handle is not anti-virus…

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Gooding: Create your own market — don’t compete in someone else’s

October 20, 2015

“It’s a $100 million dollar industry, all I have to do is capture 1 percent of that market and I’ll make a million dollars.” After working with hundreds of startups, I have heard this statement countless times. This way of thinking is held by many business owners regardless of their industry, background or target market.…

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From Mizzou to Spike TV, Tommy Saunders’ ab rollers hit national stage

October 20, 2015

Tommy Saunders is serious about fitness — one glance at his eight-pack and pythons for arms makes that clear. But the Kansas City entrepreneur is also serious about business, a fact he plans to prove as part of a reality-competition series debuting Tuesday on Spike TV. A former University of Missouri football standout, Saunders recently…

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Blooom co-founder dissects $4M raise

October 19, 2015

Financial tech firm Blooom recently snagged one of the Kansas City area’s largest funding rounds in months. QED Investors from Alexandria, Va., led Blooom’s $4 million Series A round, which also included investments from DST Systems Inc., Commerce Ventures, Hyde Park Venture Partners and UMB. The Leawood-based firm plans to use the funds to hire new sales…

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Events Preview: Athena League, Village Fall Fest

October 15, 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 Athena League October VOX When: October 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Where: C2FO Join us for our October VOX, All…

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Blooom to expand with $4M Series A

October 15, 2015

Financial tech firm Blooom is blossoming into a local startup success story. The Leawood-based company announced Thursday that it raised $4 million in a Series A round to expand its operations. QED Investors from Alexandria, Va., led the round, which also included DST Systems Inc., Commerce Ventures, Hyde Park Venture Partners and UMB. Blooom created an online…

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Report: KC needs (a lot) more venture capital

October 15, 2015

The Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute released a report that says Kansas City needs more venture capital for its biotech industry. Just how much venture capital? That is up for debate. Wayne Carter, Life Sciences Institute CEO, said $100 million is the common amount thrown around in conversation regarding Kansas City’s need, and while…

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