Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes testifies at trial in risky move

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In a surprise move, Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes took the stand in her own defense on Friday during a fraud trial that has held Silicon Valley in its grip.

The former CEO of the blood-testing company is charged with deceiving investors and customers about a supposedly revolutionary device that could perform hundreds of tests using just a drop of blood. She faces 11 counts of fraud and up to 20 years in prison.

Holmes walked slowly to the stand before a rapt courtroom filled with spectators and jurors, all wearing masks. She began her testimony by recounting her early years as a student at Stanford University and her interest in disease detection, culminating in her decision to drop out of school at age 19 and found the startup later known as Theranos.

She recounted her early years as a student and interest in disease detection while working with a respected chemistry professor, Channing Robertson, who would later join Theranos.

After drawing up a business plan and securing patents for the blood-testing technology she was trying to perfect, Holmes testified that she used savings earmarked for college to finance her ambitions of shaking up the health care industry.

The legal team for Elizabeth Holmes will argue the founder did not knowingly commit fraud but rather did not understand the shortcomings of Theranos technology.

In opening arguments, her defense attorney Lance Wade painted a picture of a hardworking young female executive caught up in the Silicon Valley culture that encourages entrepreneurs to push cutting-edge ideas.

The defense is expected to argue that Holmes was influenced by her co-executive and former boyfriend, Sunny Balwani. As potential witnesses, the defense team has listed a number of domestic violence experts, suggesting they may argue Holmes was abused and not thinking clearly when she made business decisions that resulted in fraud.

Balwani has strongly denied these allegations. His defense team did not respond to request for comment. He faces his own trial for fraud charges in 2022.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.