Former Blue Nile Execs Raise $43 Million to Nurture Their New Baby, Zulily

Zulily, an 18-month-old site aimed at mothers looking for bargains on clothing and accessories for babies and kids, closed a third round of venture capital today, totaling $43 million.
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Hey Bing, Here’s Another Decision Engine You Can Buy!

Ever wonder if you should buy a new digital camera or wait for a better one just around the corner? Even worse, did you buy the brand-new HDTV right before 3-D came out?
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Decide.com Raises Funding for Stealthy E-Commerce Company

Seattle-based Decide.com has raised $6 million in a second round led by some e-commerce legends. The company’s goal? Something about helping electronics purchasers avoid buyer’s remorse.

News Byte

Groupon Adds Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to Board

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is joining Groupon’s board of directors to contribute his brand experience to the two-year-old daily deals company, according to the company’s blog. In addition, Schultz’s venture capital firm, Maveron, is investing an undisclosed amount of money, TechFlash reports. The funding is part of Groupon’s most recent round, which was close to $1 billion. Schultz’s expertise may come in handy, especially given Groupon’s recent Super Bowl hiccup. The pair is a good match, considering Groupon’s next-closest rival, LivingSocial, has teamed up with retail giant Amazon.com.

Maveron Copes With a More Frugal Consumer

Maveron, a specialist investor in consumer-facing businesses known for its Starbucks Corp. connection and early success with an eBay Inc. investment, is staring at what looks like a once-in-a-lifetime shift in consumer attitudes. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, shoppers who once lusted after high-priced fashion brands have turned frugal, would-be early retirees are polishing off their job skills and many homeowners owe more than their houses are worth.

Another Way VCs Are Cashing Out Beyond IPOs and M&A

Motley Fool Holdings Inc. this week announced it raised $25 million in venture financing. Good for The Fool. But pulling back the curtain, there’s more than just a simple round of financing here. The deal points to creative ways in which venture firms are finding liquidity other than the standard acquisitions, IPOs and secondary sales.

Kara Visits Hollywood News Blog, TheWrap.com (Complete With Cottage HQ Like ATD!)

While the current meme is that traditional journalism is getting the stuffing knocked out of it by the digital onslaught, it neglects to notice that a lot of really sharp news reporters are actually getting some real traction by finally starting to be serious about creating online sites that are designed to compete. As case in point, BoomTown recently visited the offices of TheWrap.com, a Web blog aimed at dominating breaking news about the business of Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
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