She had an inside track to a lot of investors (and big name board members) which helped her immensely. Add on a nice demo and it's not hard to imagine.
According to the WSJ she was childhood friends with Tim Draper's daughter and that's where she got her first round.
> The first $1 million came from Tim Draper, a founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, through two of his funds. Ms. Holmes was a childhood friend of his daughter and came to him “with extraordinary energy and brilliance,” he says.
At that point you have a very bright founder who interviews well and is backed by Draper. Everyone else assumes everyone else did their research.
According to the WSJ she was childhood friends with Tim Draper's daughter and that's where she got her first round.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/at-theranos-many-strategies-and-...
> The first $1 million came from Tim Draper, a founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, through two of his funds. Ms. Holmes was a childhood friend of his daughter and came to him “with extraordinary energy and brilliance,” he says.
At that point you have a very bright founder who interviews well and is backed by Draper. Everyone else assumes everyone else did their research.