S. Somasegar dies at age 59 after leading Microsoft’s Developer Division for 27 years and backing cloud and AI startups at Madrona Venture Group

I’m still in shock. Soma didn’t just have an exceptionally successful career, he was the kindest, most authentic man you could ever hope to meet. And now he’s gone.

He had more of a lasting impact on me than he ever knew. When I was just a confused college student trying to figure out my life, I sent him a cold email asking for help choosing a job. He was a CVP at Microsoft, the most senior level exec you could be. He had every reason to ignore me. Instead, he gave me an hour of his time.

I still remember that conversation so vividly. “Don’t come to Microsoft,” he told me gently. “You don’t have to do the ‘safe’ thing. Aim higher than you think the world allows you to” He gave me, a kid, the courage to believe in himself before that kid had any reason to.

That was Soma. A man who, despite carrying the weight of an enormous career, made room in his day to lift up a stranger.

Soma went on to be a Managing Director at Madrona, of one of Seattle’s most storied venture funds, where he backed the next generation of founders with the same generosity. He co-owned the US cricket team, the Seattle Orcas, bringing the sport he loved to a country learning to love it. He made everything he touched warmer.

59 is too young. The world had so few people like him, and now it has one less.

Rest in peace, Soma (1966-2026).