Billy Evans, Partner of Elizabeth Holmes, Launches New Health Startup
According to The New York Times, Billy Evans, partner of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, is venturing into a new startup focused on “human health optimization” through innovative blood testing technology.
The Times interviewed two investors who were pitched on the startup, named Haemanthus, and also had access to some of the company’s marketing materials.
Haemanthus claims to have developed a cutting-edge machine that utilizes lasers to analyze blood, saliva, and urine samples for the detection of cancer and infections. The startup initially plans to target pet health before expanding its services to humans, aiming to secure a funding of over $50 million.
This concept bears resemblance to Theranos’ approach, where the company promised to perform various medical tests using minimal blood extracted from finger pricks. Elizabeth Holmes, who shares two children with Evans, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022 for deceiving investors. Despite her legal troubles, Holmes expressed her unwavering dedication to making affordable healthcare solutions accessible to all in a recent interview.
Jim Breyer, an early investor in Facebook, revealed that his team was approached for investment in Haemanthus but declined due to similarities with their previous decision to steer clear of Theranos.