Reid Hoffman to exit Microsoft board to lead AI drug firm Manus
Hoffman cites need to enter “founder mode” following discussions with CEO Satya Nadella, as Manus advances “Move 37” AI system for chemistry and oncology.
Microsoft announced on Thursday that Reid Hoffman is stepping down from its board of directors, concluding a ten-year tenure that began following the tech giant’s $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016. Hoffman’s departure marks a significant shift in leadership for the software company, which has relied on the LinkedIn founder’s strategic insight during a period of rapid expansion in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
The exit allows Hoffman to dedicate his full attention to Manus, an artificial intelligence drug discovery startup he co-founded and chairs. The company, which has secured more than $50 million in seed funding from investors including General Catalyst, is currently developing technology aimed at combating cancer. Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, biologist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, serves as the startup’s chief executive officer.
Hoffman indicated that the decision to leave the board was catalysed by a recent conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Hoffman’s “Possible” podcast. Reflecting on the last month, Hoffman stated he realised the need to return to “founder mode” to support Manus as it makes strides in its research. He described the startup’s work on “Move 37” AI as a system designed to surpass human creativity in chemistry, specifically targeting various forms of cancer.
Hoffman’s time on Microsoft’s board coincided with several pivotal moments in the technology sector, including the company’s initial $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019. As an original investor in OpenAI, Hoffman served on its board until 2023, when he resigned due to potential conflicts of interest. His tenure also overlapped with Microsoft’s $650 million acqui-hire deal with his previous AI venture, Inflection AI, which resulted in the hiring of co-founder Mustafa Suleyman.
While Hoffman remains a key figure in the artificial intelligence landscape, his role at Manus is strictly that of chairman and co-founder, rather than the operational leader. The move highlights a broader trend of tech veterans transitioning from corporate governance roles to hands-on leadership in specialised AI applications, particularly in healthcare and biotechnology.
