New Startup from Billy Evans, Partner of Imprisoned Theranos Founder

Billy Evans, who is notably the partner of Elizabeth Holmes from the controversial Theranos, has launched a new company focused on blood, saliva, and urine diagnostics. This startup, named Haemanthus, is reportedly seeking to raise over $50 million to develop its diagnostic technology.

Evans describes Haemanthus as aiming to revolutionize health testing, noting a “fundamental new approach.” He mentioned that the concepts behind the startup share some similarities with those of Theranos, where Holmes misled investors into believing they had created a groundbreaking blood testing method using just a few drops from finger pricks for various tests.

This new venture claims to have created a machine utilizing lasers for analyzing these samples to identify conditions like cancer and infections. Interestingly, photos of this machine have drawn comparisons to Theranos’ notorious Edison device. Initially, the company intends to test the technology on pets before expanding its use to humans and is actively pursuing substantial funding.

Holmes, despite her imprisonment, continues to offer guidance to her partners involved in this startup. However, James W. Breyer, a prominent venture capitalist, has expressed reluctance to invest, citing his previous experiences with financing similar projects.

Where is Elizabeth Holmes?

Currently, Holmes is serving an 11-year sentence at a federal prison in Bryan, Texas, following her conviction for defrauding investors. Once hailed as a remarkable innovator in Silicon Valley and compared to figures like Steve Jobs for her ambition and style, her story has taken a dramatic turn, attracting the attention of major investors including Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch.