This Week in Startups Elizabeth Holmes Theranos fraud trial kickoff + Blokable’s Aaron Holm: how to scale housing | E1274
Aug 31, 2021
Aaron Holm is the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Blokable, focused on tackling the housing crisis through modular construction. He discusses the innovative Phoenix Rising project, revealing how vertical integration can make affordable housing a reality. Holm shares insights on using green materials and addresses setbacks like budget overruns in LA's homeless housing efforts. Alongside this, there's a gripping overview of Elizabeth Holmes' trial, examining the ethical implications of her fraudulent actions in health technology.
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Theranos Fraud
- Elizabeth Holmes and Sunny Balwani face wire fraud charges for misleading investors and patients about Theranos' technology.
- They allegedly used commercially available machines to produce results, misrepresenting their own technology's capabilities.
Holmes' Defense
- Holmes' defense claims she was manipulated by Balwani in a decade-long abusive relationship.
- However, this defense might be difficult to maintain due to the complexity and duration of the fraud.
Pregnancy and Manipulation
- Holmes' recent pregnancy adds another layer of complexity to the trial, raising questions about its timing and potential impact on the jury.
- Her manipulative behavior is central to the Theranos case, raising concerns about her using the pregnancy for sympathy.