Private Equity Continues to Reach Out to Direct Selling Industry. With strong consumer brands such as eBay®, Cranium®, Potbelly® and Shutterfly® already in their portfolio, executives at Maveron—a venture capital firm co-founded in 1998 by Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks.

Immunotec Inc., Blyth Inc., Educational Development Corp., Medifast Inc.

Primerica Inc., Relìv International Inc., Medifast (Take Shape for Life), Nu Skin Enterprises Inc.

When the news broke on Jan. 10 that Sequoia Capital, one of the most influential venture-capital firms in Silicon Valley, had invested $37 million in Stella & Dot, more than a few eyebrows were raised.

In the fall of 2009 Silpada Designs Co-Founders Bonnie Kelly, Teresa Walsh and Co-Founder and CEO Jerry Kelly began to consider partnerships that would help their sterling silver jewelry company continue to thrive for years to come.