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The book on Theranos (Bad Blood) actually makes the argument that no “real” big names were in Theranos: Kissinger, Mattis and Schultz knew nothing about health

by tnolet 6y ago

The book on Theranos (Bad Blood) actually makes the argument that no “real” big names were in Theranos: Kissinger, Mattis and Schultz knew nothing about health care or medicin. They are/were career politicians. The book argues investors with actual experience in the industry staid far away.

nabla9 6y ago
Could briefly comment what you think I meant with big name?
- tnolet 6y ago
  Well known, powerful folks but also experts in the field or respected in the specific industry they are investing in / are board members of.
420codebro 6y ago
Lots of companies have directors from a wide background. In Theranos' case, the fact that Kissinger, Mattis, and Schultz were on the board was probably more useful to Ms. Holmes than having some reality-center doctor investors.
catalogia 6y ago
None of this went unnoticed as soon as the company came to public attention. One of the first discussions on HN about Theranos had people being impressed with the big names on the board, and other people noting that it lacked connections to the healthcare industry. > That is a pretty stunning board of directors as well. I don't doubt their CEO can get an introduction to, and lunch with, nearly anyone on the planet. > This board seems heavily geared to do deals for defense-related applications. That's fine; getting deals with the Armed Forces and VA is feasible and quite rewarding. What they overtly lack is connections to the healthcare world. I'm surprised they aren't publicly roped into Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic or Kaiser, as they to support novel technologies in this space. I suppose you can argue that the business model is fundamentally incompatible, but I've seen Mayo and Kaiser go in anyway; they can acquire these labs and roll them into operations pretty easily. > That BOD is stunning with heavy national security/ military operations. I almost thought it was a CIA cover company. > So, it's a health testing company that will keep all my blood-related health information and make it "actionable", with the backing of James Mattis, William Perry and none other than Henry Kissinger. There are more soldiers in that board there than doctors. The only way I'd give them my blood would be to infect them with a disease. > Wow. She must be a pretty amazing woman to have collected such strong allies. I'd have lunch with her. [This last one was downvoted, but is probably the sort of reaction Theranos was hoping to engineer.]

by tnolet 6y ago

nabla9 6y ago

Could briefly comment what you think I meant with big name?

tnolet 6y ago
Well known, powerful folks but also experts in the field or respected in the specific industry they are investing in / are board members of.

420codebro 6y ago

Lots of companies have directors from a wide background. In Theranos' case, the fact that Kissinger, Mattis, and Schultz were on the board was probably more useful to Ms. Holmes than having some reality-center doctor investors.

catalogia 6y ago

None of this went unnoticed as soon as the company came to public attention. One of the first discussions on HN about Theranos had people being impressed with the big names on the board, and other people noting that it lacked connections to the healthcare industry. > That is a pretty stunning board of directors as well. I don't doubt their CEO can get an introduction to, and lunch with, nearly anyone on the planet. > This board seems heavily geared to do deals for defense-related applications. That's fine; getting deals with the Armed Forces and VA is feasible and quite rewarding. What they overtly lack is connections to the healthcare world. I'm surprised they aren't publicly roped into Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic or Kaiser, as they to support novel technologies in this space. I suppose you can argue that the business model is fundamentally incompatible, but I've seen Mayo and Kaiser go in anyway; they can acquire these labs and roll them into operations pretty easily. > That BOD is stunning with heavy national security/ military operations. I almost thought it was a CIA cover company. > So, it's a health testing company that will keep all my blood-related health information and make it "actionable", with the backing of James Mattis, William Perry and none other than Henry Kissinger. There are more soldiers in that board there than doctors. The only way I'd give them my blood would be to infect them with a disease. > Wow. She must be a pretty amazing woman to have collected such strong allies. I'd have lunch with her. [This last one was downvoted, but is probably the sort of reaction Theranos was hoping to engineer.]