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.