[gumby]

Holmes and Draper were neighbors when she was growing up and his kids were childhood friends. Her dad's friend, Don Lucas was the Ellison connection. (Her parents are well connected in Washington D.C.)

ATA is ATA; I don't believe they are ever the first money into a deal (no slam on them, just FYI). So I'd say ATA is 1 for 5.

In general I don't know why they are described as the toast of SV by non-local journos (though Bilton knows the valley well) -- despite that big building on page mill they were never really that prominent IMHO especially because of their secrecy.

There's a ton to criticize about he culture of the valley but Theranos always stuck me more of a (non-Boston) east coast story that happened to be located in Palo Alto.