Remembering S. ‘Soma’ Somasegar: Seattle Sounders FC Honors Beloved Tech Leader and Team Owner

The Seattle Sounders took a moment of silence before their recent match against the Portland Timbers to pay tribute to one of their own.

Prior to the game at Lumen Field, the team honored S. “Soma” Somasegar, a respected Microsoft executive, Madrona venture capitalist, and minority owner of the Sounders who passed away at the age of 59 in May. Fans stood in solemn remembrance as Somasegar’s image was displayed on the stadium’s video screens.

Somasegar became a part of the Sounders ownership group in 2019, joining other prominent Seattle tech figures, such as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, in investing in the team.

Following his passing, the club highlighted Somasegar’s belief in the unifying power of sports and recognized him and his wife, Akila, for their contributions to the Sounders and Seattle Reign communities.

In the wake of Somasegar’s death, colleagues, founders, and friends shared heartfelt tributes, praising the former Microsoft leader and venture capitalist for his humility, generosity, and dedication to supporting others in their endeavors.

During his tenure at Microsoft spanning 27 years, he played a key role in the company’s developer tools division before transitioning to Madrona, where he played a pivotal role in backing and advising emerging cloud and AI startups.