Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Recent Articles by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

KU entrepreneurship program nabs award

October 6, 2015

The University of Kansas’ entrepreneurial education program recently earned a national award. The University Economic Development Association awarded the Entrepreneurs@KU program its “Award of Excellence in Innovation & Entrepreneurship.” The commendation recognizes programs that accelerate economic development by supporting startups, high-growth companies and clusters within a region, and converting talent into wealth through innovation and…

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New national CAPS Network grows from local program

October 2, 2015

The Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies is helping create a national consortium that will band together schools to boost an innovative education model. Blue Valley CAPS executive director Corey Mohn said that his program often receives interest from other schools to learn about its curriculum, which pushes students to collaborate with businesses and other professionals in…

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Events Preview: Innovation Summit, American Royal

October 1, 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 Founder Series: Gaining Working Capital Without Losing Equity When: October 1 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Where: Enterprise Center of Johnson…

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KC startup boosts overseas businesses

October 1, 2015

Holly Godfrey’s business partners are in India, Nepal and Rwanda. The timing works well, since their daytime falls during her nighttime. As she gets ready to shift her focus from her full-time day job as the rehabilitation manager at Truman Medical Center to her startup, Catalyst Scrubs, her colleagues abroad are just beginning their day.…

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Report: Kansas City is ‘meh’ for millennial entrepreneurs

September 30, 2015

A recent survey found that young entrepreneurs view Kansas City as a rather pedestrian locale to launch a business. Millennial entrepreneurs ranked Kansas City as the 30th best city to start a business, according to a Thumbtack survey of about 3,700 entrepreneurs aged 34 and under. Thumbtack, which created a marketplace that connects professional service…

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90 on the Clock with FitBark

September 30, 2015

90 on the Clock with FitBark 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 second episode in the five-part series.  As the mecca of animal health, the Kansas City metro accounts for a whopping…

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KC STEM Alliance, UMKC earn $2.5M grant

September 29, 2015

A multi-million dollar grant will aim to boost diversity in Kansas City’s healthcare workforce. KC STEM Alliance and the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies recently received a $2.5 million grant. The funds will create KC HealthTracks to introduce more low-income and minority students to healthcare careers. KC STEM Alliance works to bolster area science,…

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WonderWe acquires KC startup VolunteerMark

September 29, 2015

Andrew Stanley developed VolunteerMark to work with non-profit companies that align with his Christian faith. Lucky for Stanley and his business partner, they met someone who not only shared that passion, but also had the means to help them make it bigger. WonderWe, a software provider to nonprofits, acquired VolunteerMark and its technology to schedule…

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HEMP inducts 13 new entrepreneurs for 2015

September 29, 2015

Thirteen entrepreneurs were named to the 2015 Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program class this week. The program matches entrepreneurs with mentors, inspired by Barnett Helzberg Jr., the former owner and president of Helzberg Diamonds, who developed a 23-year-old mentoring relationship with Ewing Kauffman.  “The goal of our program is to promote entrepreneurial success to positively impact…

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(S)heStarts: How demographics affect views of your pitch

September 29, 2015

Welcome to our new series exploring news and views on men, women, start-ups and the entrepreneurial experience. In July of 2015, Startland News collaborated with WhiteSpace Consulting to conduct a whiteboard conversation with women entrepreneurs in the Kansas City region. Women entrepreneurs shared their perceptions about launching and leading companies, and identified topics for ongoing…

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