When Soma first joined the Madrona team, I was skeptical. It was 2015, and Microsoft was probably at its low point of "cool" in the startup world. "What are we doing bringing on some senior exec from Microsoft?" I thought. "What does he know about building startups? He'll probably just sit in his fancy office and expect the world to come to him like it did in Redmond." And then I actually met Soma... and realized that I couldn't have been more wrong. His boundless energy, enthusiasm, warmth and humility were infectious from day one, and were the exact opposite of what I'd (wrongly) imagined. He was hungry and driven -- but also kind, open, thoughtful and generous, all wrapped up together in one beautiful person. Genuinely that rare somebody who you just couldn't help but love. Soma didn't sit alone in that fancy office. Instead he immediately offered it to two of the office "kids" -- Ben and me -- for after-hours use on a little side project we'd dreamed up called Acquired. Several of our first episodes were recorded there and live on to this day, millions of listens later. Soma's impact on Madrona, the technology ecosystem, and all of us was immense. I'm so grateful that our paths intersected, and I -- along with countless others whose lives he made brighter -- will miss him greatly.

I first got to know S. Somasegar nearly 20 years ago at Microsoft. He became a good friend, a teacher, and an important part of my personal and professional life. Soma was one of the kindest people I have known. He helped everyone around him, gave generously of his time and wisdom, and made people better simply by being in their corner. His impact on Microsoft, the developer ecosystem, Seattle, the startup community, and so many individual lives will endure. I learned a lot from him. I am deeply grateful for his friendship. And I am going to miss him very much ❤️ My thoughts are with his family, and everyone who loved him.

"How are you finding your Microsoft internship?" Soma asked me. "It's going ok," I said. "What can I do to make it great?" was his simple response. That was S. Somasegar. I saw him last week and it was those rare moments where he let me buy his usual "tea". He was fundamentally opposed to the "younger" me paying for him and I got a bit of tough love for doing so. He had an uncanny ability to strip the most complex situations down to their essence. He would often say, "I can't tell you how it will turn out — it can be good, it can be bad — but today it looks great, so let's go for it." Simple. Honest. Freeing. At Madrona, every founder who met Soma walked away with a quiet kind of respect. He delivered hard truths with a humility and warmth that was entirely his own. Never rude, never pompous, never less than genuine. He didn't just talk about being down to earth — he simply was. In the early days of the Seattle Orcas, we spent many evenings talking cricket. It was clear he truly believed in building something real for the sport here in the Pacific Northwest. We once put together a presentation about cricket at Madrona, and in true Soma fashion, he pulled me aside afterward and said, "Go play again. Don't waste time presenting." I knew Soma for over two decades, and over the last ten years, I came to deeply understand the values he lived by. He taught me so much about life and for that I am grateful and forever indebted to him. Soma touched so many of us. The impact across so many lives is unmatched and, honestly, immeasurable. It's hard to put into words what the loss meant for most of us. The world lost a gem. There is no other way to say it.

I, like so many others, am deeply saddened by the sudden news of Soma Somasegar's passing. It is difficult to reflect in just a few words on a life that had such a profound impact on so many people across the developer community, the broader technology industry, and the Pacific Northwest. My relationship with Soma goes back more than a decade. Soma was the one who took a chance on us and acquired HockeyApp into Microsoft's Developer Division in 2014. I had the privilege of working under him, learning from him, and watching firsthand his dedication and unwavering support for the developer community. Through the years, Soma remained a trusted advisor and confidant during my tenure as GitHub CEO and now at Entire. He was a champion for myself and many of my friends at Microsoft, Madrona, and in the broader startup ecosystem. My thoughts are with Akila and his daughters. He will be deeply missed.

Today is one of the saddest days I can remember. S. Somasegar was the most genuine and kind human being I have ever met, and his loss is incalculable. A mind of unparalleled clarity. A sterling reputation. A life that inspired all of us lucky enough to be near him. I think about him in our board meetings and during our IPO. The moments when the room was heaviest, when a founder most needs honesty and steadiness, Soma was always the same person. He never raised his voice. He never reached for the easy answer. He just thought carefully and told you the truth. I lost a friend. A mentor. An inspiration. A model for how to live a life. A board member I trusted completely. A human being I trusted completely. There are very few people in a life like this one. I am grateful for every conversation we had. My heart is with Akila and his daughters, and with everyone at Madrona and in the tech community who is feeling this today. Thank you, Soma.

Reporting some difficult and very sad news this evening: S. "Soma" Somasegar, a fixture in the Seattle tech community who led Microsoft's Developer Division as part of his 27-year tenure at the company before supporting a generation of cloud and AI startups as an investor, board member and advisor, has passed away. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella remembered him as "a remarkable leader who helped grow and shape Microsoft's developer ecosystem, and a dear friend and colleague that I valued greatly." "He brought depth, humility, and a real commitment to empowering developers everywhere and his impact on Microsoft and the broader technology community will live on!" Somasegar was 59. He is survived by his wife, Akila, and two daughters.

Just heartbreaking news that "Soma" S. Somasegar has passed away aged 59. His contributions to Microsoft spanned from OS/2 to Windows NT to running DevDiv where he delivered Visual Studio, .NET, and Mobile development tools that so many of us relied on. After Microsoft, he joined Madrona as a venture partner focusing on early stage investments with startups such as UiPath and Snowflake. He was a wonderful human being and will be dearly missed by so many of us. Rest in peace Soma.

In shock to hear about S. Somasegar tonight. It is hard to overstate his legacy and his impact on Microsoft and the Seattle tech ecosystem. He was such a humble and generous person. Every interaction I had with him left a lasting impression on me. My thoughts and prayers with his wife and kids, Matt McIlwain and the rest of his family at Madrona.

My world feels fundamentally quieter today as I share the news that my dear friend and mentor, S. Somasegar, has passed away unexpectedly. Soma was a rare North Star in this industry, a man whose brilliance was only surpassed by his kindness. He didn't just raise the bar for our professional work; he redefined what it meant to lead with a soul.

Shocked. Saddened. Speechless. Just yesterday, Soma was celebrated as one of Business Insider's Seed 100 – Best Early Investors 2026. Today, we mourn the sudden loss of a dear friend, great leader, and an extraordinary human being. Soma was more than a brilliant mind and a visionary leader at Madrona and earlier at Microsoft. He was a rare soul — smart yet humble, accomplished yet approachable, always carrying a positive attitude and an open heart. He never hesitated to help, to guide, to uplift those around him. We will miss you dearly, Soma. Your legacy lives on not just in the companies you nurtured, but in the countless lives you touched with kindness and generosity. Rest in peace, my friend.

So so hard to see this one. When I was at Madrona Venture Labs, Soma was always quick to say hello and he was always kind. When he was invited to community events, he showed up to support the community. The Seattle tech community lost someone who genuinely made it better. Thinking of everyone at Madrona and of Soma's family.

If you got a chance to invest once with S. Somasegar, you hit the lottery. I hit it twice. Learned so much. Then learned some more. Loss for words. Now there's no one to laugh at my corny jokes on board calls. Already missed.

He was a kind and lovely human and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked for/with him. I will miss him. My heart goes out to his family and the Madrona family.

I can't believe the news that S. Somasegar passed away. He was a thoughtful leader at Microsoft and Madrona, and a kind human being. He was always incredibly generous with his time, sharing his rich perspective on technology and investments. Just last month we exchanged some messages on the AI enterprise transformation. He finished his advice with "Enterprises need technology: on-premises, SaaS, and AI native is a trajectory and not the end of enterprises needing tech solutions." I'll miss him.

I'm still in shock. S. Somasegar didn't just have an exceptionally successful career, he was the kindest, most authentic man you could ever hope to meet. 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. 59 is too young. The world had so few people like him, and now it has one less. Rest in peace, Soma (1966–2026).

Like many others, I woke up this morning in shock and deep sadness at the news of Soma's sudden passing. Beyond the accomplishments, what I will remember most is the person. Soma was endlessly curious. Every conversation with him left you thinking differently. He had this rare combination of intellectual depth, optimism, humility, and genuine kindness. He cared deeply about entrepreneurs, ideas, learning, and people. Over the years, Soma became much more than an investor or advisor to us at SeekOut. He was a trusted friend; someone whose perspective I valued immensely. Even in difficult moments, he brought calm, wisdom, and humanity. He did not hesitate to make time at 10pm on a Saturday evening to discuss an issue I was dealing with. Today is also a reminder of how fragile and unpredictable life is. Make time for the people you care about. Tell them you love them. Don't leave it for another day. The world lost a truly good human being far too early. Thank you, Soma. You will be deeply missed.

RIP Soma — a true friend and mentor. Soma was on the board of my last company Suplari, Inc. since 2017. We were a small Madrona-backed "AI for procurement" startup. We had our share of ups and downs. He stuck with us through it all. Like Yoda or Bodhidharma, he would give you the advice you actually needed, usually framed as a puzzle or question you had to answer yourself: "You tried it. What did you learn? Pick yourself up. Try the next thing. Keep moving." For the past 5 years, Soma and I hosted a session at Madrona to raise money for the Microsoft GIVE campaign. In one session, he shared his career advice: 1) Do the things you are excited about. You have a limited amount of time. 2) Spend 80% of your time trying to hit a home run in your role. 3) Spend 20% doing things not expected of you but that help your team or company. Soma's family and Madrona team are in our thoughts. Rest well, Soma. Thank you for everything.

I'm deeply saddened at the tragic and untimely passing of S. Somasegar. I had the fortune to learn from him early in my venture career as a fellow board member. He was always calm, collected, and full of wisdom. He knew exactly when to challenge the founder and exactly when to cheer. He was a great investor, and more importantly, a great human. My heart goes out to his partners at Madrona, his founders, his friends, and his family. May his memory be a blessing.

It's with a heavy heart I share that S. Somasegar, a giant in the Seattle venture community, passed away suddenly this week. Soma was one of the kindest people I know. He was always open for advice, despite his success as an operator and investor. Few matched his passion for developers and software innovation. My thoughts are with his family and friends and everyone who loved him.

For many of us in Seattle, S. Somasegar was one of them. MD at Madrona, co-owner of Seattle Orcas MLC Cricket team, but more importantly a foundation and guiding presence in the community. I still remember conversations with him during a phase when I was personally navigating the transition from large leadership roles back into an IC path. He spoke openly about going through a similar adjustment after Microsoft. It was a simple conversation, but it stayed with me because it came from a place of honesty, humility, and lived experience. That was Soma. He never made conversations transactional. Be it career, cricket, sponsorships, community alliances, or simply showing up when someone needed support, he always made time for people. There are leaders who drive outcomes, and then there are people who leave behind a lasting impact through their humanity. S. Somasegar belonged to the second category. Rest in peace, Soma. Seattle will miss you deeply.

We are saddened to hear of the untimely passing of S. 'Soma' Somasegar, a member of our Board of Directors and a longtime friend and ally to the UiPath leadership team. Soma joined the UiPath Board of Directors in September of 2024 and quickly became a trusted advisor and leader, providing advice and guidance throughout his tenure as both a member of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and as a veteran technology executive. Our hearts go out to Soma's wife, Akila, his daughters, and to his colleagues at Madrona.

Yesterday I lost a dear friend, a mentor, and one of the finest people I have had the privilege of knowing: S. Somasegar (Soma). Soma was a rare leader who combined deep technical brilliance with humility, empathy, and genuine kindness. Whether speaking with first-time founders, engineers, investors, or friends navigating difficult moments, Soma always made people feel supported and encouraged. His contributions to the technology industry were immense — from shaping Microsoft's developer ecosystem and global engineering culture to supporting the next generation of cloud and AI startups as an investor and board member. But beyond all these accomplishments, I will remember the person: someone grounded, gracious, intellectually curious, and deeply caring. Rest in peace, Soma. Your impact on people, companies, and the broader technology ecosystem will endure for generations.

Woke up to the heartbreaking news of CEG '86 alumnus "Soma" S. Somasegar's passing. Still hard to process. We had the privilege of inviting Soma to Kurukshetra, our alma mater College of Engineering, Guindy's flagship tech fest, back in 2015. No matter how much he achieved over the years, what always stood out to me was his humility and warmth. He made time for students, conversations, and people — not out of obligation, but with genuine kindness. Strangely, just a couple of days ago, I was speaking about him with a friend, and we found ourselves recalling not his achievements first, but what an incredibly nice human being he was. That says everything. Gone too soon. The world needs more people like him. Rest in peace, Soma.

When I cofounded Novi some years back, we pitched dozens of VCs and received dozens of no's, or more commonly non-responses. Of literally every VC we pitched, only two took the time to share thoughtful and intentionally helpful feedback when choosing not to invest. Madrona through S. Somasegar was one of them. That "generous helpful spirit for helping others," as Matt put it, will echo through the tech community for decades to come. A tremendous loss. Soma will be remembered and live on through the countless people who were privileged to have crossed paths with him.

Heartbroken to hear about Soma Sir. For 27 years at Microsoft and 11 at Madrona, he bet on developers. Not the platforms, not the strategies. The people building. He didn't have to take those calls. He didn't have to remember what I was building from one conversation to the next. He did anyway. He listened as the conversation mattered. He gave you the honest read, not the polite one. The founder community lost one of its quiet giants today. Thank you, Soma Sir.

S. Somasegar was kind, humble, and generous. During grad school, he took a chance on me and gave me my first real look inside Seattle's tech scene through an internship at Madrona. He coached me, saw something in me before I fully saw it myself, and quietly backed my path into tech sales. Grateful to have learned from him. My heart goes out to Soma's family, the Madrona team, and everyone in this community feeling this today. 59 is far too young.

We were shocked to hear of Soma's passing. He was a friend and mentor for us at Strato-Cloud. He helped us in the early stages of our company. He had tremendous impact on the Seattle tech community and was generous with his time and experience. Our condolences to his colleagues at Madrona and of course his family. He will be missed.

A tribute to S. Somasegar. Mentor. Connector. The person who changed the trajectory of my career without ever making it feel transactional. While I was at Microsoft, Soma introduced me to the world of venture capital. He pointed me toward startup mentorship, sharpened my thinking, and eventually brought me into the Madrona family to support their portfolio companies. But none of that is what I'll remember most. What I'll remember is this: he was never too busy. Not once. Every email answered. Every meeting taken. Every conversation given fully, without expectation of anything in return. He encouraged without flattery. He gave without keeping score. Legacy isn't a list of accomplishments. It's a feeling people carry long after the last meeting ends. Soma left me with something I'm still trying to pass forward. Godspeed.

I'm just terribly shocked and broken with the news of losing such an incredible soul, S. Somasegar. He was one of the humblest you could meet — happy to sit at a corner Starbucks, no fancy café needed. Terribly passionate about people, full of life, and a true Indian at heart who loved movies, food, cricket, and Bollywood songs. His love for cricket was so much that he co-owned the US cricket team with none other than Satya Nadella. He would talk about politics, human relationships, and could easily be that great mentor for many of us in digital and technology — with sharp insights about all things digital that got him to become a part of one of the biggest VC firms in the US: Madrona. So important that we cherish and appreciate people while we have them, tell them what they mean to us before they're gone. Prayers for the family and for all of those who knew him.

Shock and sadness don't begin to capture the news we all received yesterday of S. Somasegar's passing. I first met Soma in 1989 when we were both new hires at Microsoft. The journey to the first release of Windows NT was the ride of a lifetime. I always looked forward to seeing him and asking, "How are you doing?" His trademark response was always: "So far, so good." That phrase captured something essential about Soma. He was steady, thoughtful, and gracious no matter what challenges came his way. What I keep coming back to is how many generations of products, people, and companies bear his fingerprints. That was Soma: enormous impact, with no need for the credit. The tech community truly lost a giant. Farewell, my friend.

Soma's loss is huge for Seattle Tech and the Indian community. I knew him during the Windows NT days in the 90s. He was very mindful of quality and community engagement. When I started working in the startup world over the past decade, I got to know more about Soma. He was a kind and smiling person — always willing to listen. On several occasions he opened doors and connected me with others. He was always responsive and willing to give a few minutes of time when needed. He had equally invested well in the South Indian community — for social events, movies, cricket, etc. If anything, this loss further reminds us how short life is. Giving time and support is paramount for building a stronger community and society. I pray for his soul to rest well.

S. Somasegar and I first met in 1991, when he interviewed me for a job at Microsoft. Neither of us could have known that interview would be the start of a 35-year friendship — one that shaped so many chapters of my career and life since. He was a friend first, but also a mentor through every inflection point. He invested in Ally.io, my second startup. He led the seed round in my third — Rhythms — and joined our board. We had just wrapped a board meeting a few days ago. It was energizing, full of ideas, and we somehow ended up bantering about which Indian restaurants we should use for catering. That was him: serious about the work, warm about the people, always game for the small joys in between. Our kids went to the same schools. He was there for so many of the moments that mattered. I'll miss him deeply. Grateful beyond words for the time, the counsel, and the friendship. Rest well, my friend.

I'm completely shattered by our loss of S. Somasegar. I say "our" loss because it's incredible how many of us Soma touched over the years in his warm, kind, wise, and thoughtful ways. We met 20 years ago when he led DevDiv and he has been a friend and mentor ever since. When he told me he was leaving Microsoft to join Madrona, I let him in on my secret that I planned to leave soon to start a company. He asked that he be the first to hear the pitch, which I honored. He led Pulumi's first investment, joined our board, and that partnership and friendship just deepened even more over the past decade. Soma was the first person I would call anytime I faced a tough situation, needed advice or a boost, as his calmness and ability to see right through to clarity instantly centered me and revealed the path ahead. He was always there, no matter what time, where we were, or what we had going on. What an amazing human who we all learned so much from. I already miss him so much. Farewell, Soma ❤️

I got to learn of Soma's passing through friends and family, and I refused to accept it. Just over a week ago we were sitting at our usual coffee place catching up about so many things. We had 35 years of history and trust behind us — from the early days of Windows NT. Recently we would talk about tech of course, but also about other matters that were close to us: our kids, India, Cricket. Soma was the same at our last meeting — wise, earnest, humble, helpful, and always smiling. Such he was to everyone who had the good fortune to cross paths with him. Tech world and Seattle lost something big today. For some of us, we lost one of our own. RIP Soma.

I'm deeply saddened at the news of Soma Somasegar's passing. Soma ran DevDiv from around 2005–2015 and he was beloved by everyone. Soma was the exact opposite of Microsoft leaders at the time. He was calm, he listened, he didn't scream or terrorize people in meetings, he supported Big Bold Ideas and calculated risk. He was more than a leader — he made DevDiv feel like a family and he was a mentor for so many of us. My thoughts go out to his family, and as he would always sign off on his blog, Namaste Soma.

Soma Somasegar died yesterday and this is a shock for many of us in our community. I keep returning to a dinner we had in San Francisco, December of 2014. We went for dosas. He told me about his mother making dosas for him growing up and how these were almost as good. As we walked to his Uber afterward, he asked: "Would you ever consider going to Microsoft again? Is it never?" I answered honestly. "Never is a very long time. What did you have in mind, Soma?" He laughed. A few months later I made the leap back to Microsoft. I worked directly for Soma for two years. He was patient with my long stories. He opened doors for me that I cannot picture anyone else opening. As you get more senior in tech, the coaching is always the same: be efficient, be quick, keep it short. The first thing to go is time for the human in front of you. Soma was the opposite. He made time. He listened. Open doors. Listen. Care. Help. That's the lesson. Rest well, Soma.

I was deeply saddened to hear of S. Somasegar's passing yesterday. I believe he was the kindest soul in tech, and I'm only one in millions of people who benefitted from his work. I was part of his larger Developer Division team from 2003–2010 and hold one memory dear which changed how I think about leadership. My mom passed away in 2008 and I journeyed home to be with family. Upon arrival, there were dozens of flowers from friends and family, but one stood out — a large wreath of beautiful white flowers on a stand, right next to her. The note said: "Bill and family, sending you my love and peace — Soma." I was only one of thousands of people who were part of his team, and I never reported to him directly, but that didn't stop him from extending his love and support. Sometimes we lead from the front, but the most indelible leadership moments often happen 1:1, in the quiet moments when people need us. Soma and family, sending you my love and peace. — Bill

The whole Madrona family is grieving the loss of our beloved friend and partner S. Somasegar. Soma's picture below says it all. He always had that big smile and incredible twinkle in his eye. Those expressions highlighted the awesome combination of warmth, youthful curiosity and wisdom that you ALWAYS experienced when spending time with Soma. He genuinely cared about all those around him. And, the outpouring of love we have received from the community has been overwhelming in the most positive of ways! There is so much more to say about Soma. We will have time to more fully celebrate his high-impact life where he made a significant difference in the lives of so many others. For now, we will focus on supporting his incredible wife Akila, their amazing daughters Sahana and Archana and their extensive community of friends and family who loved Soma so deeply. Thanks to everyone for your sincere kindness to Soma's family and the Madrona team.

It's hard to articulate how much of an impact Soma had on @aarthir and me. He spotted us out of undergrad, made sure we got our first jobs, spent time with us though he was a senior executive at Microsoft and we were random junior people, and showered us with kindness and guidance throughout our careers. He was one of those rare people who made everyone feel seen.

Soma Somasegar was a special and important mentor to me, and he meant a lot to many people. I was saddened to learn of his passing yesterday. 59 years is not enough, and yet Soma won by any measure. He was humble, visionary, and dedicated to his family. For me, Soma taught me how to embrace uncertainty and chaos with curiosity and joy. Not fearlessness — joy. Perhaps his greatest legacy will be that curious, joyful spirit that he imparted to so many of us who got to learn from him.

Catching up after my travels to the heartbreaking news of the passing of S. Somasegar (Soma). My heartfelt prayers go out to his family, loved ones, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched. The loss feels deeply personal for so many across the global technology and developer community. During the early years of my career, during Microsoft developer days, and as part of the #MUGH Hyderabad community, Soma had a profound influence on how I viewed technology and its ability to solve real world problems. What always stood out to me was not just his incredible leadership and contributions to Microsoft, Visual Studio, and the developer ecosystem, but his humility and generosity. Despite being a leader, he always took the time to listen patiently to young developers, encourage ideas, appreciate honest product feedback, and uplift deserving talent. For many of us, he was more than a technology leader. He was a mentor, motivator, community builder, and someone who inspired countless people to dream bigger, innovate, and even pursue entrepreneurship. I feel truly grateful that our paths crossed. His influence shaped not only my technology journey but also the way I think about community, leadership, and giving back. The technology world has lost an exceptional leader, mentor, and above all, a genuinely wonderful human being. His impact will continue to live through every developer, technologist, and community member he inspired. Gone too soon. You will be deeply missed.

It's been a few days since the news about S. Somasegar reached me, and I've been thinking about him in all my quiet moments. Soma was the most impactful person in my career. He gave me the opportunity to serve as his technical assistant in DevDiv at Microsoft, and then he connected me with Snowflake when no one had ever heard of it. We stayed connected throughout it all. I've been thinking a lot about what he taught me. He was passionate about giving opportunities to promising engineers from underrepresented groups like me, a female Mexican-American software engineer. He taught me to enter a room quietly, read the mood, and listen for what's not being said as much as what is being said. He told me to listen to all feedback, but sometimes someone else's opinion shouldn't change you. He showed me how to think more about where the product is going than where it is right now. He told me that you can disagree with your leadership's strategy for a while, but not forever. Most importantly, he demonstrated being kind to everyone and remembering everyone's name. I miss you, Soma.

We all have that person in our mind's eye whom we wish to aspire to be. For me that is S. Somasegar. He was brilliant, but never needed to prove it. He worked as hard as anyone but always had time for family, friends and colleagues. He was kind in every interaction. His pervasive smile always lit up the room. He loved and was proud of his amazing wife and daughters. Every time I asked Soma how he was doing, he'd respond by saying "Good, good, you know one day at a time kind of a thing." As a running joke that became my answer to him. These last few days have been tough to take one at a time. I take comfort in knowing how many people's lives Soma impacted and the enormous legacy he leaves behind.

I was personally very saddened to learn of the death of S. Somasegar this week. Soma was that rare blend of leader — super smart, focused on business outcomes as well as empathetic. I remember clearly how he helped me one day. I was heads-down on a push to address some of the shortcomings of Windows XAML (that later became WinUI), making it more usable for Office. It was intense, righteous work. It was a bit charged at times across Microsoft divisions. Contentious, with mis-information. I ran into Soma in the corridor. Soma, "Mark, how's it going?" Me — "It's challenging, but it's all good stuff to do. It's hard work but we're making good progress." I probably looked a little tired, but I was also enjoying what we were doing. He listened. Really listened. Nodded thoughtfully. Gave me encouragement. Soma, "This is important, keep at it." It was just a little lift that got me through a rough patch. I knew that my leaders got what I was doing, and were supportive. I couldn't ask for more. Soma wasn't just touch-feely — he started investments in the Developer division that grew the business significantly. Azure DevOps, VS Code. Outcomes, results and empathy. Rare. His future work and support of the Seattle startup community at Madrona have been inspirational. Deepest condolences to his family.

I had the pleasure of working with many great people at Microsoft but S. Somasegar was one of the best of the best. Brilliant in running DevDiv (Developer Division), passionate about what he was doing and simply a warm wonderful human being who cared about the people around him in a way you tangibly felt. He was one of a kind and incredibly special, and I'm heartbroken that he is gone. My deepest condolences to Akila and their beautiful family. The world is less bright today without Soma's special light.

It has been 36 hours, and I am still waiting to wake up from what feels like a terrible dream. The profound outpouring of grief over the untimely passing of Soma S. Somasegar, echoing across news articles, LinkedIn, WhatsApp groups, and quiet personal chats is a beautiful, but heartbreaking testament to the human he was. Yes, Soma was brilliant. He was accomplished, incredibly smart, and widely successful. But what rises above all the professional accolades, both in my own heart and in every tribute being shared today, is his extraordinary humanity. It was his kindness. His unmistakable smile. His deeply empathetic presence. Soma had a rare and generous gift of giving his time and making you feel entirely seen. For me, he was always there: a friend to lean on, a wise head to bounce ideas off, a source of sage counsel, a bridge to our common passions for cricket, music, tech. Whenever you spent time with him, you walked away lifted by his warmth, his affection, and his undeniable energy. My greatest hope today is that we shared even 1% of this immense love and respect with him while he was here, and that he truly felt just how special he was to all of us. You will be so deeply missed, Soma. But you will live on. Your generosity, your energy, and that incredible smile will remain a source of inspiration for decades to come. Thank you for simply being you.

The world of Microsoft alumni and the Seattle tech ecosystem is reeling from the premature death of one of our best. S. Somasegar. Yes, he was very senior and successful, but the outpouring of emotion is completely out of proportion, and that is because Soma was not just smart, accomplished and successful. He was uniquely empathetic, humble and kind. He was a giver not a taker. I can think of two of my favourite quotes as I try to come to grips with Soma's untimely passage. "In a world where you can be anything, choose to be kind." Soma exemplified this. "People will forget what you did. People will forget what you said. But people will never forget how you made them feel." — Maya Angelou Soma made every single person he met feel good. That's why we feel such a sense of loss. RIP Soma — you lived a life that really mattered, and I am grateful to have known you.

The world lost one of its most genuine souls this week. S. "Soma" Somasegar passed away on May 19th at just 59 years old, and I am still processing it. My wife took me to his home around 2004 — she simply wanted to meet her brother's school friend. I had no idea who he was. What followed was a 4-hour conversation that quietly changed the course of my life. Soma planted a seed that day — why I should join Microsoft, how it could shape my career, why it was worth betting on. He was right. That decision rippled through everything that came after, and I carry its impact to this day. What struck me most was that he never once made us feel like we were talking to someone important. He was just... present. Generous with his thinking. Genuinely interested in us. Years later, he came to our home to congratulate us on the birth of our son, and again to wish us well before our move back to India in 2012. He didn't have to do any of that. But that was Soma — he showed up for people in the quiet moments, not just the big ones. This is the kind of man he was. Humble, warm, and profoundly kind. The tech industry produces many successful people. It produces very few who are also this human. 59 is far too soon. Rest in peace, Soma. My deepest condolences to Akila and his family. 🙏

I was honored to be asked to speak at S. Somasegar's retirement celebration in 2015. More than anything, I wanted to explain how it FELT to work with Soma. How it was that he made all of us who were privileged to work alongside him, feel. That mattered so much more than enumerating all the work we did together. How we feel is what we remember in our soul. I fondly remembered our trip to Dubai three years earlier, to launch Visual Studio 12. While there, we decided to go with Soma and a few members of the team to visit the top of Burj Khalifa, which at the time was the tallest building in the world. I shared that the visit to the top of Burj Khalifa was a blast, but the true gift was it didn't take a trip to Burj Khalifa to know what it felt like to be on top of the world. Because, simply put, working with Soma made you feel like you were on top of the world, every single day. That's what my soul remembers. Soma thanked me and as humble and modest as he was, I could tell he was a little uncomfortable with the accolades. But sometimes you must tell a legend the truth. I'm so grateful to have had that opportunity. "Death has nothing to do with going away. The sun sets and the moon sets, but they're not gone." — Rumi My deepest sympathies and condolences to Soma's family and friends.

Devastated to hear the sad news about Soma, which has left the entire Seattle community in shock. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to all affected. We have lost a brilliant leader, a role model, a mentor, and a passionate cricket fan. Rest in peace, S. Somasegar. You will be missed but will continue to inspire every young entrepreneur dreaming of future success—whether in AI, Cloud, or even the challenging field of cricket. You demonstrated how to turn passion into a successful career and create a bright future. You changed the lives of many—whether at Madrona and the entire tech world, Seattle Orcas and the cricket world, or the startup community. You will be forever missed by many.

Still in shock hearing about Soma's passing. As a fresh graduate straight out of university, one of the very first people I looked up to in the developer platform division was Soma Somasegar. I still remember my first visit to Seattle in 2000. It was my first time away from home and in another country. Soma somehow understood that a few of us were struggling with the cultural change, especially food and comfort. He took us to Fremont for a warm Indian dinner. It may sound like a small gesture, but for a young engineer just starting out, it left a lifelong impression on me. I saw firsthand how a senior leader could be humble, thoughtful, approachable, and genuinely caring towards very junior people. Over the years, that memory stayed with me. It shaped how I think about leadership, mentorship, and nurturing young talent. Soma was not just an exceptional technology leader. He inspired people through kindness, humility, and humanity. He will always remain one of my role models. Rest in peace, Soma. You touched more lives than you probably ever realised.

Soma was always available to do an interview whenever I reached out while working on a GeekWire story. I know how busy he was and yet he was always willing to speak with me. Just one small example of his generosity.

Soma told a story about getting into LSU for college. He was so excited to be going to LA until he arrived on campus and realized that LA was the state abbreviation and not the city

I had the honor of sitting on the Bobsled board with Soma. He was truly an incredible human. My favorite story was when he brought a cricket bat to a board meeting with the Seattle Orcas logo on it. He was so excited and beaming with pride. I was used to his calm, but direct demeanor on the board so seeing him grinning ear to ear was a wonderful moment for us to connect as friends.

He graciously accepted to be our featured speaker in a breakfast-side chat during our kickoff meetings last year. He was kind, surprisingly very funny, and just seemed like a really great person all around. I'm very sorry for your loss, Madrona team.

S. Somasegar shaped my life before I ever met him. In 6th grade, I learned to code on Visual Studio and spent hours building .NET apps, both products he led at Microsoft. I had no idea who he was. I just knew those tools made me feel like I could build anything. Years later, thanks to Aseem, I got a chance to be mentored by him. He used to say: "It's hard to build something. Harder to build something people want. And hardest to build something people want and pay for." Then he looked at me (I was 26 at the time) and said he was proud of me for doing the third one. I've carried that with me every day since. The world is smaller without him. Rest easy, Soma.

Soma was a great mentor - it was my startup tenure of building cloud transformation co. , or my current AI business, or how our youth can build cricket as career. We are proud of Soma and his achievemets as Indian Diaspora and our heartfelt condolences. This is not a loss that can ever be recovered. RIP Soma - you will be forever our role model

So many. Three to share here 1/Soma gave advice through stories. He was never "on the nose" about guidance, but would offer parallels and examples to illustrate his point. When I came to him for advice on doing more in venture, he shared his own "buyer beware" story from his transition from Microsoft to Venture as guidance. He gently guided me to the right conclusion without explicit advice. 2/ He was appreciative of folks taking risks and thanked me when I ran for the local council of the city we were both residents in. 3/ He sought opinions, was not a "know it all," As an example, when we last met, we talked about the latest WA tax regulations and he was curious to get my take on it from a local city council perspective.

I looked up to Soma as my mentor and coach, and feel a deep sense of gratitude for the impact he had on my life. Soma hired me into Microsoft in 1995 to join his team in Windows. I owe my 30 year successful career at Microsoft to Soma opening the door to a young developer straight out of school. I still remember my office down the hall from his corner office back in the 1990's and if he passed by the office, would always stop to say ask how I was doing. Around that time, I happened to be out sick for a few weeks, and no one knew other than my manager and immediate team. Then out of the blue, a get-well-soon bouquet of flowers showed up in my apartment signed "From Soma and team". Mind you at that time, I was an entry level developer and receiving a get-well anything from a leader about three or more levels above me was a pretty big deal. I was just blown away that he even recognized I was out sick. I found out later from team that he noticed that I hadn't been in office for a while and inquired about my whereabouts. But this is what I loved about Soma.. he was the leader who genuinely cared about team, with a desire to help people in a selfless way. It's just hard to find leaders like him these days. Fast forward 30 years, I met him just a few months back to get advice, he listened and asked calmly .. "Farzana - do you want to be a builder or an investor ?" He had distilled my predicament down to such simplicity and clarity that it is a barometer I am still mulling over :-). Soma was a unique leader - caring, humble, clarity of vision, and a genuine desire to help people. His impact on me has been immense. Thank you for everything, Soma - I am going to miss your mentorship and guidance deeply.

I worked closely with Soma from 1999-2005 at Microsoft. I was early in my career and learning to navigate my first corporate environment. I had a stressful job and there was a lot of pressure to produce from my own team. Soma was my main internal client, and he could have taken the tact that most VPs did-been unforgiving and unrelenting in expectations. But Soma did quite the opposite. He nurtured a safe and productive professional relationship. He wanted to know about my family and my background. He shared ideas, he was understanding, he included me in meetings so that I could learn more from inside the Windows team. I grew so much, gained confidence and owe much of my professional success to him. He radiated kindess, empathy and genuinely wanted to do good in the world with what he was lucky enough to have. He was an incredibly proud father. The world is a bit colder without him. I am so sorry for his loss and wish to convey my genuine condolences to his wife, daughters and extended family. -Stacy Hauser

My heart aches to read this news. I have many positive memories of working with Soma while at Microsoft. My favorite though relates to his time leading global localization of the Windows platform while I was leading our businesses in China, Japan and across Asia. He was always field and customer focused, responsive and curious, great to work with, and always committed to getting it right. At that time in Microsoft that was not the norm in terms of engineering and sales communication. A great person, leader, and technologist. He will be sorely missed!

I am deeply saddened and heartbroken today by the passing of Somasegar. He was my mentor, friend, and a guiding light. Soma was an incredible human being: kind, warm, thoughtful, humble, and deeply generous with his wisdom. He had a rare ability to make everyone around him feel at ease. As the lead investor in AnsweriQ and board member, Soma brought calm, clarity, and sage-like wisdom to every conversation. He had a sense of equanimity that was rare — steady, thoughtful, and always grounded. His passing leaves a deep void in my heart. I am pained by this loss. I am grateful to have known him, learned from him, and walked part of my journey with him. Rest in peace, Soma. Your light, wisdom, and humanity will continue to live on in all of us who were fortunate enough to know you.

The first thing that comes to my mind is Soma's smile. He lights up the room and everyone around him. Very optimistic, Remembers details of everyone he meets and loved his daughters a ton! A loss for the Indian community, the venture ecosystem and family.

I still remember sitting late in my office at Microsoft bldg27 in 2003 debugging a stress test failure when someone knocked on my door. To my surprise, Soma had decided to personally hand over my goldstar award (an envelope) and when he saw I was debugging stress test failure, sat down and I learned first hand the history behind it and the role he played. I was a junior engineer and was excited and overwhelmed with a senior executive in my office. It was one of the most memorable encounters I had in the 16+ years I spent at Microsoft. He was the leader I've tried to emulate throughout my professional career. Rest in peace.

I only met Soma once years ago. We were seated next to each other at a dinner. I remember the dinner vividly -- the place setting, the lighting, the food. The reason I remember those details is because I so enjoyed my discussion with Soma that evening. He had a magical way of making people, even strangers like me, feel deeply seen and heard. My husband, Todd, and I are sending our love and condolences to Soma's friends, family and colleagues. I can only imagine how much he'll be missed. He was one of a kind.

The soft-spoken, with integrity, humble demeanor and always making time to chat - will miss Soma and my heartfelt condolences to his family at home, at work and in startups - will remember Soma with high regard -

I worked at the India Development Center (IDC) from 2006 to 2010, back when Soma was our executive sponsor. Every time I traveled to Redmond and requested a 1:1, he would generously carve out time from his incredibly busy schedule. Those 30 minutes were always an invaluable masterclass in genuine human connection. Soma was perhaps the only executive who would invariably begin a meeting by checking in on my personal well-being and my family. He understood that work is empty without the humanity behind it. I will miss you deeply, Soma. Rest in peace.

I've always been a big Soma fan. Even before I joined Madrona I knew he was a legend at Microsoft and an incredibly sharp dev tools investor. So of course on my first day I was completely disarmed by how kind, humble, and generous his spirit was. He was one of those people that you enjoyed every single interaction with and always left smiling and having learned something. One of my favorite memories of Soma was going on a recent work trip to Boston with him and our other colleague Jeff. We showed up at 8am to our first meeting and complained about we arrived late the previous night from San Francisco and how we barely had any sleep. Unbeknowst to us, Soma had actually taken a redeye from the west coast and arrived an hour before the meeting (after squeezing in one more meeting with a founder the previous night). In classic Soma fashion, he never complained once, said he felt bad we were tired, asked if we needed some coffee, and strolled directly into the meeting where he was at the top of his game with a twinkle in his eye!