Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Recent Articles by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

Kauffman Foundation selects familiar face as new CEO

June 9, 2015

After a yearlong, nationwide search for a new CEO, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation wound up selecting one of its own. The Kansas City-based foundation selected Wendy Guillies as the Foundation’s new president and CEO. Guillies, who previously served as interim CEO and vice president of communications for the foundation, joined the organization in April…

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EyeVerify enters new European market with Vodafone deal

June 9, 2015

Biometrics tech company EyeVerify is continuing its global expansion into Europe with a new deal. The Kansas City-based firm recently announced a licensing and marketing agreement with Turkish security tech company Olcsan CAD. The deal makes Olcsan the exclusive distributor of EyeVerify’s eye vein biometrics technology, or Eyeprint ID, throughout Turkey. “We’re pleased to partner…

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What’s in a name? MindMixer gets new moniker

June 8, 2015

A year after its move to Kansas City, MindMixer is making a name change. Formerly based in Omaha, MindMixer now will go by the name of its new software product, mySidewalk, which engages communities to share ideas and stay informed of new initiatives. “Like all businesses, the more we learn about the people we serve,…

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Event-staffing tech firm Pop Bookings opens seed round at $250K

June 8, 2015

Kansas City-based Pop Bookings is scoring local love from angel investors as it hopes to bolster its seed round to further develop its online event-staffing platform. A recent graduate of business accelerator SparkLabKC, Pop Bookings opened its round in April at $250,000, with lead investments from Kansas City-area angel investors. Pop Bookings CEO Erika Klotz said…

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Schukman: 5 ways to fuse a social mission in your company

June 8, 2015

I’ve recently been exploring ways in which traditional companies have been retroactively becoming social entrepreneurs. Recall from my last piece that social entrepreneurship is a businessperson that creates a profit and purpose-driven organization in which the business and social missions run in tandem. Our social mission, therefore, becomes a key component of our marketing, branding,…

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KCK tech firm RFP365 named ‘new small business’ of the year

June 5, 2015

The wins are stacking up for RFP365. Now weeks after scoring a contract with the City of Kansas City, Mo., the tech company was named the 2015 “New Small Business of the Year” Friday by the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce. A member of the Kansas City Startup Village, RFP365 created software that eases…

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Gallery: Sprint Accelerator Demo Day

June 5, 2015

The Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator held its Demo Day event Thursday at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Ten startups that specialize in mobile health technology graduated from the Techstars-led accelerator, which conducts a three-month, mentor-led program designed to quickly advance businesses.  Check out photos from the event by scrolling below. 

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Think IP: 3 IP rights your startup should know

June 4, 2015

In this Think column, Venture Legal attorney Andrew McGhie explores the complex world of intellectual property and how to protect your company. The Think column helps entrepreneurs to stop and think about the various aspects of starting and running a business. The most valuable assets for startups often include some type of intellectual property. What protection is…

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UMKC, Digital Sandbox KC partnership to maximize resources, create jobs

June 4, 2015

The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s E-Scholars program has partnered with a business incubator program to provide resources and capital to student entrepreneurs. The program has partnered with Digital Sandbox KC to offer inroads to students to further develop their business projects with additional funding. “The UMKC Entrepreneurship Scholars program has a very specific goal –…

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KC smart city ‘an invitation’ to innovators, entrepreneurs

June 4, 2015

The City of Kansas City, Mo., has signed an agreement with Sprint and Cisco to create the largest smart city in North America in the City of Fountains. Sprint will be building a network of connectivity worth up to $7 million dollars while Cisco will be providing smart city infrastructure worth upwards of $5 million. The…

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