977 Archivesstory of Elizabeth Holmes and the years-long fraud she perpetuated should be a big warning for all of Silicon Valley, according to the director of HBO's new Theranos documentary.
Alex Gibney, the director of The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, says Silicon Valley's "fetishization of the entrepreneur" is the reason why Holmes was able to get away with her lies for so long.
By now, the story is well-known. After years of lying about what her blood testing startup was capable of, Holmes, who was once routinely compared to Steve Jobs, is staring down fraud charges from the SEC.
While Gibney's documentary explores the rise and fall of Holmes and Theranos, it's also a searing indictment of a startup culture that was so desperate for a fresh-faced visionary that it refused to question whether or not she could deliver in her promises.
SEE ALSO: Theranos HBO documentary trailer drops, and wow"It has to do with creating this myth of the genius CEO who could do everything and, 'Oh my God, they've got to be worth so much money because they're so smart, without them, everything would disappear.' It's just bullshit," he says.
Gibney says he knows this isn't a popular message in a culture obsessed with founders like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, who carefully hone their image as lone, visionary founders.
In Silicon Valley, Gibney says, there's a strong motivation to see Holmes as an "anomalous figure" who "doesn't really have anything to do with Silicon Valley."
"She's just a pure fraudster. And none of the key VCs ever invested in her and so forth and so on. She's just a freak. And that's just not true. And, you know, 'fake it till you make it' is very much baked in Silicon Valley and to American capitalism."
That idea that Holmes was operating under the idea of "fake it til you make it" is a big theme of The Inventor, even as you realize just how ridiculous it was. Some of the most incredible scenes in the film come from leaked footage taken inside Theranos meetings, giving viewers a firsthand look into how Holmes ran the company that was built on lies.
I won't spoil any of the details, but there are some truly ridiculous scenes that will be familiar to anyone who read Wall Street Journalreporter John Carreyrou's Theranos book Bad Blood.
"I think the takeaway for Silicon Valley, and the takeaway for the rest of us who may be invested in the idea of Silicon Valley ... is you know, if the attitude is fake it till you make it, our attitude should be trust but verify," Gibney says.
The Inventorpremieres March 18 on HBO.
Topics SXSW
NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for April 17: Tips to solve Connections #206
The Trash of the System
Pulling Left
Signs and Blunders
Whale Vomit Episode 5: Startup Monarchy
A Liberal Comity Show
The Carpetbaggers of Tech
The Professional Friends of YouTube
Turtle Beach Recon 50P gaming headset deal: 28% off
The Usual Suspects
BYD opens first Yangwang store, secures 4,000 orders: report · TechNodeHuawei aims for 70 million smartphone shipments in 2024 · TechNodeCotti Coffee registers multiple trademarks for baijiuUS may limit US companies from engaging with China’s entities on RISCJD emphasizes “genuinely low prices” ahead of Singles Day · TechNodeFoxconn and Nvidia to jointly build AI factories · TechNodeHuawei’s HiSilicon unit begins shipping inTSMC's second plant in Japan may receive $6 billion subsidy · TechNodeHuawei aims for 70 million smartphone shipments in 2024 · TechNodeLuxshare producing three iPhone 15 models, preparing for Apple Vision Pro production · TechNodeTikTok takes further action amid disinformation on the IsraelByteDance denies it is abandoning VR business Pico · TechNodeBYD opens first Yangwang store, secures 4,000 orders: report · TechNodeChina’s Chery Auto to enter Thailand in first half of 2024: executive · TechNodeStarbucks invests $220 million in China's coffee market expansion · TechNodeTSMC's second plant in Japan may receive $6 billion subsidy · TechNodeFlorasis faces another PR storm following apology · TechNodeEast Buy launches paid membership program as it chases new income source · TechNodeChinese government looks to establish metaverse industry standards · TechNodeDigital torchbearer to perform at closing ceremony of 19th Asian Games · TechNode Australia's got flies. But not usually this many. Thanks, I Love It: The ‘No Way Home’ moment that made me gasp out loud The 5 most important TV features to look for in 2022 Lego drops super Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone set The 18 most anticipated TV shows premiering in 2022 Man with the 'golden arm' saved lives for 60 years, donates last time Merry Sexy Christmas, 'Ted Lasso' fans Apple Watch Series 8 may eliminate the Digital Crown Stunning spiral galaxies and glittering stars are among Hubble's stellar 2021 photos Sneaky squirrels make a home, and a fire hazard, out of a car's engine Kelly doesn't want unskilled immigrants, just like his ancestors 7 ridiculously large sex toys to help you go big in the bedroom 5 ways you never knew you could masturbate Dwayne Johnson wrote the sweetest Instagram post to his girlfriend for Mother's Day Everything to know about Boba Fett before Disney's 'Boba Fett' miniseries LG is bringing transparent TVs to CES Amazon Alexa told a child to plug a charger into an electrical outlet Ryan Reynolds said the sweetest thing about Blake Lively on the red carpet This woman could be the first Native American governor in US history The Wachowskis' 'Speed Racer' bombed in 2008. It's now a must
2.1638s , 10116.53125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【1977 Archives】,Defense Information Network
