Who is Elizabeth Holmes, the businesswoman who deceived Silicon Valley

In 2003 and at the age of 19, inspired by her aspirations to be a doctor but with a fear of needles, Holmes founded Theranos with the goal of revolutionizing preventative health through fast and effective blood tests.

Its relevance in the technological landscape, then, was growing. In accordance with The New York Times built his public image around his “unusually deep voice, intense gaze and a uniform of black turtlenecks meant to evoke Steve Jobs.”

During her tenure as CEO and President of Theranos, Holmes was described as persuasive and inspiring. Likewise, when her first accusations against her company arrived, she dedicated herself to defending it and rejected any criticism, since she said that the company was changing the world.

It is worth mentioning that his success also had an effect on the perception of security he had regarding the people around him, since the same American newspaper highlights that he installed bulletproof glass in his office and traveled by plane or with a driver and an escort of security.

Theranos, from promise to fraud

Holmes claimed his Edison-named innovation would be a “home lab,” comments that helped Theranos reach a $9 billion valuation in 2014, but in October of the following year an investigation by The Wall Street Journal began the series. of revelations that showed the frauds behind the company.

In the investigation, the capabilities of the Theranos machine were questioned and from then on the United States Department of Health began an investigation against it, which also gave rise to lawsuits by doctors or misdiagnosed patients, as well as of investors for the crime of fraud.

Among the complaints regarding the product was the fact that it asked for conventional blood samples and not just a drop, as well as errors about the diseases detected. Given this, the US government revoked its license to carry out blood tests and imposed charges of “mass fraud” before the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to prosecutors who gave details about the investigation of the case, Holmes was aware that the machines would not be able to detect diseases with just a small blood sample. In addition, they pointed out that he lied to investors, employees and patients to continue amassing his fortune.

By September 2018, the company was dissolved and it was determined that the federal trial would begin in July 2020, but this was postponed due to the pandemic and the businesswoman’s pregnancy.