San Francisco, California — The former romantic partner of Elizabeth Holmes, the convicted founder of Theranos, is now venturing into the health-tech industry with a new company that closely mirrors the controversial blood-testing startup. Billy Evans, who shares two children with Holmes, has reportedly secured millions in funding to launch Haemanthus, a firm focused on diagnostics that utilize blood, saliva, and urine samples.

According to reports, Evans has begun courting investors for Haemanthus, which he claims will employ cutting-edge technology to analyze biological samples for medical diagnoses. The similarities to Theranos, which promised revolutionary blood-testing capabilities before its downfall, have raised eyebrows among potential backers.

Holmes established Theranos in 2003, attracting significant investments from high-profile financiers with bold claims about her company’s ability to conduct accurate tests using tiny blood samples. However, investigations revealed that these assertions were unfounded, culminating in the company’s dissolution in 2018 and Holmes receiving an 11-year prison sentence for fraud.

Haemanthus aims to innovate within the same space, as detailed in a patent filed earlier this year. The company’s proposed technology would analyze various bodily fluids—not just blood—but also sweat and saliva. Early plans include testing on animals before advancing to human trials.

Marketing documents suggest that Haemanthus will feature a unique laser system capable of providing swift analysis, potentially identifying illnesses like infections or cancer in mere seconds. The company envisions long-term goals that include developing a miniature version of this technology for consumer use.

Evans’s entrepreneurial journey is already encountering challenges, with several investors reportedly expressing reluctance to back Haemanthus. Nevertheless, he has managed to raise nearly $20 million from friends and other sources, with Holmes reportedly advising him during the fundraising process.

Though Evans resides in Texas with their children while Holmes serves her sentence about 120 miles away, his effort to forge a path in the health-tech field raises questions about the future of innovation in an industry marred by a high-profile scandal. Stakeholders are watching closely to see if the lessons learned from Theranos will influence how this new venture is perceived and supported.