Reid Hoffman is stepping down from Microsoft’s board, ending a nearly decade-long tenure that began after the software giant acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016.
Microsoft announced Hoffman’s departure on Thursday.
During his time on the board, Hoffman was involved in several major AI-related moves by the company.
These included:
- Microsoft’s initial $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019.
- The company’s $650 million acqui-hire agreement with Inflection AI.
- The hiring of Inflection co-founder Mustafa Suleyman by Microsoft.
Hoffman was also an early investor in OpenAI and served on the startup’s board before stepping down in 2023, citing potential conflicts of interest.
Focus shifts to Manas
Hoffman said he plans to devote more attention to Manas, an AI-driven drug discovery startup.
Speaking on a recent episode of his “Possible” podcast alongside Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella, Hoffman said he was returning to “founder mode.”
“One of the things I realized over the last month was that, we’re seeing such progress with Manas. I need to get back to founder mode,” he said.
Manas raised more than $50 million through two seed funding rounds last year.
Among its investors are:
- Reid Hoffman
- General Catalyst
Hoffman is listed as a co-founder and chairman of the company.
The chief executive role is held by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, biologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the 2011 book “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.”
Pursuing AI-driven drug discovery
Hoffman said he believes Manas is making progress toward what he described as “Move 37” AI, referring to systems capable of exceeding human creativity in chemistry.
He said the technology could help develop treatments for various forms of cancer.
TL;DR:
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman is leaving Microsoft’s board after nearly a decade to spend more time on Manas, an AI drug discovery startup that raised more than $50 million last year.
AI summary:
- Reid Hoffman is stepping down from Microsoft’s board.
- He joined after Microsoft’s $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn.
- Hoffman said he wants to return to “founder mode.”
- His AI drug discovery startup Manas raised more than $50 million.
- Manas is led by CEO Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee.
