Reid Hoffman Steps Down from Microsoft Board to Focus on His AI Startup Manus

After a decade of profitability as a board member for Microsoft, renowned entrepreneur and investor Reid Hoffman has decided to step down from his role. This decision comes just days after he revealed his involvement with a new AI-driven drug discovery company called Manus. Hoffman made the announcement during an episode of his podcast 'Possible,' where he discussed his reasons for leaving Microsoft's board.

Hoffman joined Microsoft's board following the acquisition of his previous company, LinkedIn, in 2016 for $26.2 billion. He was instrumental as a board member when Microsoft made its first significant investment into OpenAI in 2019 and later helped integrate Inflection AI through a non-acquisition, acqui-hire deal, which resulted in the hiring of co-founder Mustafa Suleyman.

In his recent podcast episode with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Hoffman revealed that he is stepping down to focus on Manus. This startup aims to revolutionize drug discovery using advanced AI technologies. Hoffman cited a need for more attention to Manus' progress and highlighted their advancements in 'Move 37,' an ambitious project aimed at surpassing human creativity in chemistry.

Manus has already secured over $50 million through seed rounds, with General Catalyst among its investors. Hoffman is listed as a co-founder of the startup but does not serve as CEO; that role belongs to Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a distinguished physician and biologist who previously authored the Pulitzer Prize-winning book 'The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.'

With his transition complete, Hoffman expresses excitement for what lies ahead with Manus. He believes the startup is on track to make significant strides in combating various cancers through innovative AI-driven methods.