Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder and long-time Microsoft board member, is stepping down from Microsoft’s board after a decade of service to dedicate more time to his AI-focused startup Manus.Hoffman joined the board following Microsoft’s $26.

2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016 and remained involved during a transformative period for the company, including its early $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019.

He also served during Microsoft’s controversial $650 million deal with Inflection AI, another startup he co-founded, which resulted in Microsoft hiring Inflection co-founder Mustafa Suleyman.

Hoffman has been deeply involved in the AI ecosystem as an investor and operator, including previously serving on OpenAI’s board before stepping down in 2023 due to potential conflicts of interest.His latest focus, Manus, is a drug discovery company specializing in AI-driven approaches to tackling diseases such as cancer.The startup reportedly raised over $50 million through seed funding rounds last year, with backing from investors including General Catalyst.Hoffman is listed as a co-founder and chairman of Manus, while the CEO role is held by Dr.Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, biologist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for his book The Emperor of All Maladies.

Hoffman has recently described his return to “founder mode” as a response to rapid progress at Manus, emphasizing its potential in advancing what he calls “Move 37” AI—systems capable of surpassing human creativity in chemistry and accelerating breakthroughs in drug discovery.His departure marks a shift from corporate governance back to hands-on startup building in the AI and biotech intersection.