Reid Hoffman Leaves Microsoft Board To Focus On Manus AI

Former Microsoft board member Reid Hoffman has stepped down from the company’s board, marking a return to startup building and investment activities. Hoffman joined Microsoft’s board following the company’s $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016.

Strategic Investment And Board Leadership

During his time on the board, Hoffman was involved in a period of significant investment in artificial intelligence, including Microsoft’s first $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019. As an early investor in OpenAI, Hoffman also served on the organisation’s board before stepping down in 2023 to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

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Acqui-Hire Deals And AI Synergies

Hoffman’s board tenure coincided with significant strategic moves, including Microsoft’s $650 million acqui-hire deal involving his AI startup, Inflection AI. This arrangement, which saw Microsoft adding Inflection co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to its ranks, highlights the increasingly blurred lines between corporate reinvention and startup innovation in the tech landscape.

Return to Founder Mode With Manus AI

In a recent conversation on his “Possible” podcast with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Hoffman revealed his excitement to return to “founder mode” with his latest venture, Manus. This AI-driven drug discovery startup has already raised over $50 million through early seed rounds, marking it as a promising player in the competitive field of AI in healthcare.

Leadership Under Visionary Guidance

Hoffman serves as co-founder and chair of Manus AI. Day-to-day leadership is led by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, biologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. The company is focused on applying artificial intelligence to chemistry and drug discovery, including research related to cancer treatment. Hoffman’s departure from Microsoft’s board comes as he increases his focus on new ventures in artificial intelligence and healthcare.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Property Deals Reach €286 Million Despite Second-Quarter Uncertainty

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 28, 2026

Cyprus’ high-end property market remained active in the first half of 2026, although geopolitical uncertainty may have weighed on investment activity during the second quarter.

€286.4 Million Across The 50 Largest Deals

Property transactions worth a combined €286.4 million ranked among Cyprus’ 50 highest-value deals completed between January and June, according to real estate analytics firm Ask Wire.

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Examining the country’s biggest sales across all districts, the report found that the 10 largest transactions alone accounted for €161.7 million, highlighting the concentration of activity at the upper end of the market.

Limassol Extends Its Lead

A €55 million sale involving a building and adjoining fields in Moni was the largest property transaction recorded during the period.

Six of the country’s 10 biggest deals took place in Limassol, with a combined value of €117.2 million. Paphos followed with three transactions worth €35.5 million, while Larnaca recorded one €9 million sale.

Across the broader ranking, Limassol’s 10 largest transactions reached €148.2 million, representing 51.7% of the total value of the top 50 deals. Paphos followed with €68.8 million (24%), while Nicosia recorded €26.7 million. Famagusta narrowly surpassed Larnaca, reaching €21.4 million compared with €21.2 million.

Land Continues To Drive High-Value Deals

According to Ask Wire CEO Pavlos Loizou, land acquisitions continue to dominate Cyprus’ largest property transactions.

“The land market dominates the list of the 10 highest-value property transactions, with seven sales involving fields and plots.”

Many of those sites are expected to be developed into luxury residential and hospitality projects, he added.

Office Demand Remains Strong

Growing demand for office space also reflects the expansion of international companies establishing operations in Cyprus, Loizou said.

“We continue to observe growing demand for office properties, reflecting the expansion of the new ecosystem of international companies that has been establishing itself in Cyprus in recent years.”

Eight of the 10 largest transactions were completed during the first quarter of 2026, with activity slowing in the following three months.

Loizou said the slowdown may reflect investor caution linked to the conflict in the Middle East, which appears to have influenced investment decisions during the second quarter.

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