Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Recent Articles by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

LaunchKC winners reflect on ‘massive opportunity’

September 21, 2015

Once the dust settled on the LaunchKC grant recipient announcement, the champagne bottles popped. Founders from the 10 winning companies — parred down from a list of 500 — had reason to celebrate Friday afternoon between the promise of $50,000 and the chance to land some office space. Of the 10 recipient companies, six come…

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Set your watch: 90 seconds with local innovators, entrepreneurs

September 21, 2015

It’s coming! Set your watch as we team up with FlatlandKC to highlight Kansas City’s innovators and entrepreneurs, all in 90 seconds. “90 on the Clock” premieres Wednesday, Sept. 23, with Callie England, founder of Rawxies, as she talks about her East Bottoms business and its raw, vegan, and gluten- and soy-free treats. The five-part series continues each Wednesday as the 90-second…

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Meet the 10 startup winners of LaunchKC’s $50K

September 18, 2015

LaunchKC announced the winners of 10, $50,000 grants Friday during a celebration at the inaugural Techweek Kansas City conference. More than 40 judges evaluated pitches from 20 contest finalists, who pitched their companies Friday morning at Union Station before a crowd of about 100 people. LaunchKC kicked off in February and nabbed nearly 500 total applicants…

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KC picks who they think will win LaunchKC’s $50K grants

September 18, 2015

Twenty startups are hoping to snag $50,000 during the LaunchKC grant competition. Nearly 500 companies applied to be part of the contest, which will be announcing the winners at Techweek Kansas City at 3 p.m. Friday. Below are predictions from a few members of the tech, startup and entrepreneurship community meandering around Techweek on who…

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A chat with Tinder co-founder Jonathan Badeen

September 18, 2015

Tinder co-founder Jonathan Badeen’s roots run deep in the Kansas City area. A native of Leawood and a graduate of Barstow High School, Badeen stopped by Techweek Kansas City Thursday to discuss the popular app — Tinder — that he helped create. Badeen, who’s also a fan of the University of Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas…

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Nixon announces $1.2M in grants to KC programs

September 18, 2015

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon made an appearance at Techweek Thursday to announce $1.19 million in grants to three Kansas City organizations through the Missouri Technology Corporation. Of the $1.19 million, $565,000 is going to LaunchKC, $500,000 is going to the Digital Sandbox KC and $125,000 is going to the Independence Economic Development Council. The 2016 Missouri…

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One-on-one with Square co-founder Jim McKelvey

September 17, 2015

Startland News reporter Ashley Jost sat down with Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square and LaunchCode, during his visit to Techweek. Here’s a bit of the conversation. On Kansas City’s strengths as a tech hub … You’ve got the classic things – it’s mostly talent. Kansas City is a town that very few people want to…

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Gallery: Techweek Kansas City expo

September 17, 2015

Hundreds of techies, innovators and entrepreneurs converged on Union Station on Thursday for Techweek’s expo. With startups and large corporations, the expo featured dozens of company’s technologies.  Attendees at the inaugural Techweek Kansas City arrived to soak up their pitches. Below is a photo gallery from the event. Enjoy!

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Entrepreneurs discuss trials, triumphs with Athena League

September 17, 2015

Embracing chaos and persistence. Those were the two main themes that arose from Athena League’s Techweek event Thursday morning. Athena League worked in conjunction with Techweek to host Hailee Bland-Walsh, owner and CEO of City Gym KC, and Jill Minton, founder and CEO of t.Loft, to speak to a crowd of roughly 100 about their…

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Events Preview: Techweek continues

September 17, 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   Techweek Hiring Fair When: September 17 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm Where: KC Live! Whether you’re in search of a…

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