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Reid Hoffman Resigns From Microsoft Board to Focus on AI-Driven Drug Discovery Startup Manus
Reid Hoffman, the co‑founder of LinkedIn, announced on Thursday that he will step down from Microsoft’s board of directors to devote his full attention to Manus, an AI‑native biopharmaceutical company. The move comes after a decade of service on Microsoft’s board, which Hoffman joined in 2016 following the company’s $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn.
Hoffman’s departure follows a series of high‑profile involvements in the artificial‑intelligence sector. He was a key early investor in OpenAI and helped secure Microsoft’s $1 billion investment in the AI research organization in 2019. In 2023, he resigned from OpenAI’s board, citing potential conflicts of interest between his role on that board and his investments through Greylock Partners, as well as his personal holdings in startups that build on OpenAI technology.
During a recent episode of his “Possible” podcast with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Hoffman said that Manus is experiencing rapid progress and that he needs to return to founder mode. The company, which focuses on discovering cancer drugs using machine learning, is backed by Hoffman and venture firm General Catalyst. Hoffman serves as co‑founder and chairman, while Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a Pulitzer Prize‑winning physician and author of The Emperor of All Maladies, is the CEO.
Manus claims to be advancing what Hoffman calls “Move 37” AI, a form of machine intelligence that aims to surpass human creativity in chemistry for cancer treatment. The startup’s approach relies on large language‑model techniques adapted to molecular design, with the goal of accelerating the identification of promising therapeutic candidates.
Hoffman’s tenure on Microsoft’s board has seen the company deepen its AI strategy, including the acquisition of Inflection AI for $650 million in 2023. Inflection, founded in 2022, was a competitor to OpenAI and its acquisition was intended to bolster Microsoft’s Copilot ecosystem. Hoffman’s involvement in Inflection’s acquisition underscores his long‑standing interest in AI platforms.
The announcement of Hoffman’s resignation was made by Microsoft on Thursday, with the company noting that his departure will not affect its ongoing AI initiatives. Hoffman’s decision reflects a broader trend of seasoned investors and executives returning to startup roles after years on corporate boards.
At present, Manus is operating as a private company with no public financial disclosures. The company’s focus remains on leveraging AI to streamline drug discovery pipelines, a strategy that has attracted attention from both venture capital and pharmaceutical research communities.
The resignation will take effect at the next Microsoft annual meeting, scheduled for early 2027. No immediate replacement has been named for Hoffman’s seat on the board. Microsoft’s board composition will shift as a result, but the company has indicated that its AI partnership with OpenAI and other initiatives will continue unchanged.
In summary, Reid Hoffman is leaving Microsoft’s board to concentrate on Manus, an AI‑driven drug discovery startup backed by General Catalyst and led by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. The move follows Hoffman’s long involvement in AI investments, including early support for OpenAI and the acquisition of Inflection AI. Manus is pursuing a novel AI approach, dubbed Move 37, aimed at accelerating cancer drug development. The transition is expected to take effect at Microsoft’s next annual meeting, with no immediate impact on the company’s broader AI strategy.
Hoffman’s departure follows a series of high‑profile involvements in the artificial‑intelligence sector. He was a key early investor in OpenAI and helped secure Microsoft’s $1 billion investment in the AI research organization in 2019. In 2023, he resigned from OpenAI’s board, citing potential conflicts of interest between his role on that board and his investments through Greylock Partners, as well as his personal holdings in startups that build on OpenAI technology.
During a recent episode of his “Possible” podcast with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Hoffman said that Manus is experiencing rapid progress and that he needs to return to founder mode. The company, which focuses on discovering cancer drugs using machine learning, is backed by Hoffman and venture firm General Catalyst. Hoffman serves as co‑founder and chairman, while Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a Pulitzer Prize‑winning physician and author of The Emperor of All Maladies, is the CEO.
Manus claims to be advancing what Hoffman calls “Move 37” AI, a form of machine intelligence that aims to surpass human creativity in chemistry for cancer treatment. The startup’s approach relies on large language‑model techniques adapted to molecular design, with the goal of accelerating the identification of promising therapeutic candidates.
Hoffman’s tenure on Microsoft’s board has seen the company deepen its AI strategy, including the acquisition of Inflection AI for $650 million in 2023. Inflection, founded in 2022, was a competitor to OpenAI and its acquisition was intended to bolster Microsoft’s Copilot ecosystem. Hoffman’s involvement in Inflection’s acquisition underscores his long‑standing interest in AI platforms.
The announcement of Hoffman’s resignation was made by Microsoft on Thursday, with the company noting that his departure will not affect its ongoing AI initiatives. Hoffman’s decision reflects a broader trend of seasoned investors and executives returning to startup roles after years on corporate boards.
At present, Manus is operating as a private company with no public financial disclosures. The company’s focus remains on leveraging AI to streamline drug discovery pipelines, a strategy that has attracted attention from both venture capital and pharmaceutical research communities.
The resignation will take effect at the next Microsoft annual meeting, scheduled for early 2027. No immediate replacement has been named for Hoffman’s seat on the board. Microsoft’s board composition will shift as a result, but the company has indicated that its AI partnership with OpenAI and other initiatives will continue unchanged.
In summary, Reid Hoffman is leaving Microsoft’s board to concentrate on Manus, an AI‑driven drug discovery startup backed by General Catalyst and led by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. The move follows Hoffman’s long involvement in AI investments, including early support for OpenAI and the acquisition of Inflection AI. Manus is pursuing a novel AI approach, dubbed Move 37, aimed at accelerating cancer drug development. The transition is expected to take effect at Microsoft’s next annual meeting, with no immediate impact on the company’s broader AI strategy.
