Ted Kummert

After more than two decades at Microsoft, Ted Kummert is leaving the software giant to join Seattle venture capital firm Madrona Venture Group. Kummert, who most recently served as the corporate vice president of the data platform group, will join Madrona as a venture partner. He will help the firm identify new investments, and play a role in assisting with its existing portfolio.

“Madrona is one of the most successful venture capital firms in the country, and is investing in areas that have inspired me for years,” said Kummert in a release. “I look forward to interacting with the young entrepreneurs and engineers Madrona supports and helping them turn compelling ideas into successful businesses.”

The addition of Kummert comes eight months after Madrona raised a $300 million venture fund, the largest in the firm’s history. It also follows a number of other additions at the firm in recent years, including former aQuantive CEO Brian McAndrews who joined in 2009 and former Amazon product manager Julie Sandler who joined in 2011.

Kummert will certainly add strength in enterprise software, cloud computing and big data, areas where Madrona sees plenty of opportunity. Its investments include Tier 3, ExtraHop, Apptio and Smartsheet.

At Microsoft, Kummert oversaw the development of SQL Server, SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse, Windows Azure Data Services and Microsoft’s business intelligence and big data offerings. 

“As cloud, data analytics and applications “as-a-service” change how companies do business, Ted is a true asset to our entrepreneurs and to the Madrona team,” said Madrona’s Matt McIlwain.

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