E62: Elizabeth Holmes verdict, fraud origins & takeaways, navigating "The Great Markdown" & more
- Jan 7, 2022
- 1:06:39
- Full Episode
0:00 Bestie intro and poker recap 3:14 Elizabeth Holmes verdict, origins of the fraud, breakdown of the Theranos promise 17:51 Lessons for founders and investors from the Theranos debacle, bad behavior a sign of the top 26:09 Implications of "The Great Markdown" on public and private markets, confusing FED decisions 45:56 Advice for founders on navigating a downturn 1:00:01 a16z's new mega funds; should they go public? How does that change partner dynamics?
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Referenced in the show: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-elizabeth-holmes-verdict-theranos-founder-is-guilty-on-four-of-11-charges-in-fraud-trial-11641255705 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58469882 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/04/technology/elizabeth-holmes-verdict.html https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-theranos-fraud-elizabeth-holmes-convicted-trial-blood-testing-start-up-11641330471 https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-maris-explains-why-gv-didnt-invest-in-theranos-2015-10 https://www.skadden.com/insights/publications/2021/06/insights-the-delaware-edition/delaware-courts-expand-plaintiffs-rights https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/05/fed-minutes-december-2021.html https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/T10YIE http://www.paulgraham.com/aord.html https://www.socialcapital.com/annual-letters/2019 https://medium.com/craft-ventures/the-burn-multiple-51a7e43cb200 https://www.statista.com/statistics/266206/googles-annual-global-revenue https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/07/andreessen-horowitz-raises-9b-in-new-capital-for-venture-growth-bio-funds
Brief Summary
COVID poker night chaos, Holmes guilty verdict, tech stock corrections discussed.
Key points
- Poker Night Panic. A poker night spirals into chaos when a dealer tests positive for COVID-19.
- Elizabeth Holmes Found Guilty. Elizabeth Holmes has been convicted on four counts of fraud, facing significant prison time.
- The Rise and Fall of Theranos. The media's role in Elizabeth Holmes's narrative and the consequences of her misrepresentations.
- The Media's Double-Edged Sword. When courting the media for publicity, be cautious; they can build you up only to tear you down.
- Risks of Original Thinking. The lack of original thinking in business can lead to significant risks.
- Understanding Section 220. Shareholders can file a Section 220 in Delaware if they suspect malfeasance, gaining access to detailed financials.
Episode highlights
- Poker Night PanicA poker night spirals into chaos when a dealer tests positive for COVID-19.“It was like someone just got shot.”1:08Jan 7, 2022
- Elizabeth Holmes Found GuiltyElizabeth Holmes has been convicted on four counts of fraud, facing significant prison time.“This outcome could be significant because it means hundreds of millions of dollars of losses.”3:16Jan 7, 2022
- The Rise and Fall of TheranosThe media's role in Elizabeth Holmes's narrative and the consequences of her misrepresentations.“The media coverage created a hyped story about who and what she is.”9:46Jan 7, 2022
- The Media's Double-Edged SwordWhen courting the media for publicity, be cautious; they can build you up only to tear you down.“You're playing with fire because the media will build you up and tear you down.”18:18Jan 7, 2022
- Risks of Original ThinkingThe lack of original thinking in business can lead to significant risks.“The lack of original thinking in business is one of the biggest risks we take.”19:54Jan 7, 2022
- Understanding Section 220Shareholders can file a Section 220 in Delaware if they suspect malfeasance, gaining access to detailed financials.“If you feel there's malfeasance going on, you can file a 220 in Delaware.”22:52Jan 7, 2022
- Egregious Company BehaviorA company sold without disclosing terms to shareholders, raising suspicions of fraud.“The most egregious thing I've ever seen.”24:42Jan 7, 2022
- The Risk of Write-DownsTaking write-downs on unicorns could lead to hundreds of billions lost across VC portfolios.“A write-down of 900 unicorns is gonna cause a write-down of hundreds of billions.”36:57Jan 7, 2022





