Reid Hoffman Exits Microsoft Board To Launch AI Biotech Startup Manus

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman is stepping down from Microsoft’s board of directors after more than a decade of service. Hoffman, who joined the board in 2017 following Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn, is shifting his focus to a new venture called Manus. The departure marks the end of a highly profitable era for the tech veteran, during which he helped guide the software giant through its massive pivot toward cloud computing and generative AI.

The new project, Manus, is described as an AI-driven drug discovery startup. By moving into "founder mode," Hoffman signals a transition from high-level corporate governance back to the hands-on building of early-stage technology. The move reflects a broader trend of Silicon Valley heavyweights returning to their roots in biotechnology and artificial intelligence as those sectors continue to converge.

His exit leaves a notable vacancy on Microsoft’s board at a time when the company is locked in a fierce competition for AI dominance. Market analysts will be watching to see how Microsoft replaces his strategic expertise and whether Manus emerges as a significant player in the rapidly crowding field of AI-assisted medicine. For Hoffman, the shift represents a bet on the transformative power of biology and computing.

This story was originally reported by TechCrunch.