Reid Hoffman Leaves Microsoft Board to Join AI-Pharma Startup

Reid Hoffman, renowned as the co-founder of LinkedIn* and a prominent tech investor, is stepping down from Microsoft’s board of directors. His departure is driven by his commitment to Manus, a startup focused on AI-powered drug discovery. The company has raised over $50 million in early-stage funding, with General Catalyst among its backers.

Hoffman served on Microsoft’s board since 2016, following the acquisition of LinkedIn* by the corporation. During his tenure, he contributed to key decisions, including Microsoft’s $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019. In 2023, Hoffman resigned from OpenAI’s board due to potential conflicts of interest stemming from his involvement in other AI ventures.

At Manus, Hoffman serves as co-founder and board chair, while the CEO is Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee—a biologist, physician, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author for his book on cancer. The startup specializes in building AI models that surpass human capabilities in chemistry, particularly for developing oncology treatments.

On the *Possible* podcast, Hoffman stated that Manus has made significant progress, and he aims to return to “founder mode” to devote more attention to the project. He emphasized that the company is working on breakthrough solutions that could transform cancer treatment approaches.