Watch a documentary “Elizabeth Holmes: The ‘Valley of Hype’ behind the rise and fall of Theranos” and write a 5-6 page report.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to2GSibbrv0&t=3762s
Solved by verified expertElizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, was once hailed as the next Steve Jobs and a revolutionary figure in the medical industry. Her startup, Theranos, claimed to have developed a revolutionary blood-testing technology that could analyze a multitude of diseases with just a drop of blood. The company grew to be worth $9 billion and attracted investment from high-profile individuals and companies, such as Rupert Murdoch and Walgreens. However, it all came crashing down when it was revealed that Theranos’ technology was a fraud, and Elizabeth Holmes was indicted on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This report will delve into the rise and fall of Theranos and explore the key factors that contributed to its downfall.
Background
Theranos was founded by Elizabeth Holmes in 2003 when she was just 19 years old. Holmes dropped out of Stanford University to start the company, which she claimed would revolutionize the medical industry. The company’s technology was based on a small machine called the “Edison” that was supposed to perform hundreds of blood tests with just a single drop of blood. Theranos claimed that its technology was faster, cheaper, and more accurate than traditional blood testing methods. This would allow for early detection of diseases, personalized treatments, and ultimately, better health
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Theranos’ technology quickly caught the attention of investors and the media, and the company’s value soared to $9 billion. The company partnered with Walgreens to offer blood testing services in its stores and attracted investment from high-profile individuals, such as Rupert Murdoch and Betsy DeVos. Elizabeth Holmes was hailed as a visionary and was featured on the covers of magazines like Forbes and Fortune.
However, it all came crashing down when investigative reporter John Carreyrou of the Wall Street Journal started looking into Theranos’ claims. Carreyrou found that the company’s technology did not work as advertised and that Theranos was using traditional blood testing methods for the vast majority of its tests. The company was also accused of manipulating its test results and covering up failures. In 2018, Elizabeth Holmes was indicted on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Theranos was dissolved.
Factors Contributing to the Downfall of Theranos
There were several key factors that contributed to the downfall of Theranos. These include:
Lack of Scientific Rigor: Theranos’ technology was never independently validated or peer-reviewed. The company refused to share its data with outside scientists and experts, and its own internal testing procedures were found to be inadequate. This lack of scientific rigor meant that Theranos’ claims were never properly scrutinized, and its technology was able to continue being used despite not working as advertised.
Culture of Secrecy: Elizabeth Holmes was known for her secretive and controlling leadership style. She surrounded herself with loyalists who were not allowed to share information or speak to the media without her approval. This culture of secrecy meant that concerns and criticisms were not able to surface, and employees who raised concerns were often fired or silenced.
Pressure to Succeed: Theranos was under enormous pressure to succeed and meet its promises to investors and partners. The company’s technology was never fully developed or tested before being rolled out, and this pressure to succeed led to shortcuts being taken and corners being cut. As a result, the technology did not work as advertised, and the company was forced to use traditional blood testing methods for the vast majority of its tests.
Lack of Regulatory Oversight: The medical industry is heavily regulated, but Theranos was able to operate largely unchecked. The company was able to secure approval from the FDA for a small number of tests, but it was not subject to the same level of scrutiny as traditional medical companies. This lack of regulatory oversight allowed Theranos to make claims
