S. “Soma” Somasegar, a central figure in Seattle’s tech community who led Microsoft’s Developer Division before becoming a managing director at Madrona Venture Group, died on Tuesday. He was 59 and is survived by his wife, Akila, and their two daughters. His passing was confirmed by Madrona and Microsoft, and tributes from colleagues and founders across the region quickly followed.
Madrona posted an initial tribute on its website, saying the firm was “heartbroken” and would focus on supporting Somasegar’s family and the Madrona team. The remembrance called him “unique at every level” and invited friends and colleagues to share memories and remembrances.
From Puducherry To Microsoft’s Engineering Core
Sivaramakrishnan Somasegar was born Aug. 13, 1966, in Puducherry, India, and came to the United States to study computer engineering before joining Microsoft on Jan. 23, 1989. He started out working on the OS/2 and early Windows NT teams, rose through the engineering ranks, and eventually led the Developer Division for roughly 12 years, overseeing Visual Studio and .NET as they grew into major platforms for mobile and cloud development. He also founded Microsoft’s India Development Center in Hyderabad in 1998, a contribution he often cited as one of his proudest achievements, as reported by GeekWire.
A Second Act With Madrona
After leaving Microsoft in 2015, Somasegar joined Madrona Venture Group, shifting from big-company leadership to early-stage investing. He was promoted to managing director in 2017 and focused on cloud infrastructure, developer tools, and AI. According to Madrona, he served on multiple boards and took a hands-on approach to working with founders in the Pacific Northwest, especially on developer platforms and DevOps.
Big Bets And Billion-Dollar Exits
At Madrona, Somasegar led or played key roles in investments that went on to become multibillion-dollar companies, including Snowflake and UiPath. He also backed startups such as Pulumi, RelationalAI, and Statsig. Statsig’s exit to OpenAI for about $1.1 billion in 2025 highlighted the scale of those wins, as reported by TechCrunch.
Colleagues Remember A Mentor And Builder
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described Somasegar as “a remarkable leader who helped grow and shape Microsoft’s developer ecosystem,” adding that he would remember Soma’s “warmth, his thoughtful advice, and the integrity he brought to everything he did.” Madrona managing director Matt McIlwain called Somasegar “beloved” and praised his generosity with both time and wisdom, as reported by GeekWire.
What His Loss Means For Seattle Startups
Founders and investors across the region said they will miss Somasegar’s mix of product expertise and quiet mentorship, qualities that helped shape the Pacific Northwest’s developer ecosystem. UiPath issued a statement mourning his passing and extending condolences to his family.
