5 ms·

My guess is that it is because Theranos came out of Stanford, was a Silicon Valley darling for a bit. I know that PG had said "people like Elizabeth Holmes are

My guess is that it is because Theranos came out of Stanford, was a Silicon Valley darling for a bit. I know that PG had said "people like Elizabeth Holmes are actually rarer there than in the rest of the business world, or in politics." which I would agree with but SV does give such people a leverage factor that they can't get in the rest of world. I'm fairly certain Elizabeth Holmes couldn't have achieved the level of bizarre impact she had anywhere else but Palo Alto. I also have a genuine fear that her Svengali defense is going to succeed and that will harm all women entrepreneurs in a deep and consequential way.

CyrusL 5y ago
Theranos was not a Silicon Valley darling. I don't think there were any big SV venture funds involved. It was people like Ruport Murdoch, Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, and James Mattis investing and sitting on the board.
- austinhutch 5y ago
  Tim Draper is a major SV personality and an early investor in Theranos lending it legitimacy.
  - wp381640 5y ago
    He cut her a personal check for $100k when she was 19 and didn't have much of a company because he liked her. Not following up on that investment is a pretty strong signal
- robinsoh 5y ago
  > Theranos was not a Silicon Valley darling Please allow to present some exhibits. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-silicon-valley-unicorn-theranos-and-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-2018-5 https://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-silicon-valle... "Theranos, the blood-testing startup that went from Silicon Valley darling to facing fraud charges" https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/from-silicon-valley-darling-to-fraud-accused-the-rise-and-fall-of-theranos-founder-elizabeth-holmes-10659411.htm https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/from-silicon-valley-darlin... "From Silicon Valley darling to fraud accused" https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/28/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-trial-john-carreyrou https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/28/elizabeth... " the Silicon Valley darling said could perform a variety of medical tests with just a drop of blood" Don Lucas. Larry Ellison. Oracle. As I said, Elizabeth Holmes being pretty much from Silicon Valley royalty was key to the leverage she managed to achieve. I'll be surprised if she's found guilty.
hellbannedguy 5y ago
We were the chumps. Most of us knew something wasen't right, but were afraid to ask the hard questions. I don't belive it was do to gender. Plus it was the whole fake it till you make it cool kids time. That black turtleneck borrowed from Jobs. That was the only thing that tipped me off at first. And no, I was not going comment on her looks. Was it because she was female? I don't know? I just knew it was a tell. (I didn't know anything about her, or her company. I just saw a person acting a part.) The rest of her story didn't make much sense, but so many Silicon Valley companies don't make sense. She just jumped on the band wagon. A years worth of chem at college. (I don't know for sure.) Rediculious claims about hematology. A generation of tech folks fawning over Zuckerburg. It was the "Everything is possible with youth, hard work, white, comming from wealth". Investors were salivating over another Zuck. If she is found innocent, or guilty, I don't think it will affect women entrepreneurs. She is blaming everyone, but that's what the wealthy do when in a bind. It's never their fault. Always the victim. She was an aberration. We were the fools. I believe she dodged some hard questions because of her gender, but so many wealthy semi-attractive male/female entrepreneurs seem to skate through life without getting asked the hard questions, until it's too late. I do find it disconcerting that kids (male, or female) from wealthy families get so many passes in life.

CyrusL 5y ago

Theranos was not a Silicon Valley darling. I don't think there were any big SV venture funds involved. It was people like Ruport Murdoch, Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, and James Mattis investing and sitting on the board.

austinhutch 5y ago
Tim Draper is a major SV personality and an early investor in Theranos lending it legitimacy.
- wp381640 5y ago
  He cut her a personal check for $100k when she was 19 and didn't have much of a company because he liked her. Not following up on that investment is a pretty strong signal
robinsoh 5y ago
> Theranos was not a Silicon Valley darling Please allow to present some exhibits. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-silicon-valley-unicorn-theranos-and-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-2018-5 https://www.businessinsider.com/the-history-of-silicon-valle... "Theranos, the blood-testing startup that went from Silicon Valley darling to facing fraud charges" https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/from-silicon-valley-darling-to-fraud-accused-the-rise-and-fall-of-theranos-founder-elizabeth-holmes-10659411.htm https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/from-silicon-valley-darlin... "From Silicon Valley darling to fraud accused" https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/28/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-trial-john-carreyrou https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/28/elizabeth... " the Silicon Valley darling said could perform a variety of medical tests with just a drop of blood" Don Lucas. Larry Ellison. Oracle. As I said, Elizabeth Holmes being pretty much from Silicon Valley royalty was key to the leverage she managed to achieve. I'll be surprised if she's found guilty.

hellbannedguy 5y ago

We were the chumps. Most of us knew something wasen't right, but were afraid to ask the hard questions. I don't belive it was do to gender. Plus it was the whole fake it till you make it cool kids time. That black turtleneck borrowed from Jobs. That was the only thing that tipped me off at first. And no, I was not going comment on her looks. Was it because she was female? I don't know? I just knew it was a tell. (I didn't know anything about her, or her company. I just saw a person acting a part.) The rest of her story didn't make much sense, but so many Silicon Valley companies don't make sense. She just jumped on the band wagon. A years worth of chem at college. (I don't know for sure.) Rediculious claims about hematology. A generation of tech folks fawning over Zuckerburg. It was the "Everything is possible with youth, hard work, white, comming from wealth". Investors were salivating over another Zuck. If she is found innocent, or guilty, I don't think it will affect women entrepreneurs. She is blaming everyone, but that's what the wealthy do when in a bind. It's never their fault. Always the victim. She was an aberration. We were the fools. I believe she dodged some hard questions because of her gender, but so many wealthy semi-attractive male/female entrepreneurs seem to skate through life without getting asked the hard questions, until it's too late. I do find it disconcerting that kids (male, or female) from wealthy families get so many passes in life.