> uncritical media coverage and general buzz really "wanted a female Steve Jobs". And all the ways that Holmes emulated Jobs in style but not substance went along with that.

Even if you're right, so what? Nobody signed over millions in investment on that basis. Nobody signed contracts on that basis.

They signed contracts on the basis of the influence network and the prior investment money, i.e. the connections that Holmes had.

There are not a ton of women founders, but none of them have had the media coverage, nor the easy money that Holmes raised.

TL;DR Was Holmes unique for being a woman? Or was she actually unique because she had massive connections with tons of influence, and that influence got her media coverage rather than being a woman?