Tim Porter

Managing Director·Madrona

Seattle

Bio

Professional summary

Tim Porter joined Madrona in 2006 and invests in B2B software companies, especially in the Pacific Northwest. His current interests include intelligent applications, SaaS, cloud-native software infrastructure, the modern data stack, machine learning, DevOps, and cybersecurity. Before Madrona, he worked in Microsoft's corporate development group, where he helped source, structure, and negotiate acquisitions, strategic investments, and joint ventures, closing 14 transactions worth more than $850 million. His portfolio includes Highspot, Spice AI, Stacklok, Dropzone AI, Runway, Ravenna, and past investments such as Algorithmia, Heptio, Lexion, PlayFab, and Numbers Station.

Investment focus

Stage, sector, and overall fit

Stage

Early-stageB2B software company building

Sector

B2B softwareSaaSCloud-native infrastructureModern data stackMachine learningDevOpsCybersecurity

Thesis

Intelligent applications and SaaSCloud-native infrastructure and developer platformsSecurity and DevOpsAI-native service management and data tooling

Notable companies

Selected portfolio companies the partner has backed

HighspotSpice AIStacklokDropzone AIRunwayRavennaAlgorithmiaHeptioLexionPlayFabNumbers Station

How to approach

Framing and angles for outreach

Pitch framing

Lead with strong customer validation, a focused wedge, and evidence that the product can become critical infrastructure or workflow software for B2B users. He appears especially relevant for founders in SaaS, infrastructure, security, DevOps, data, and AI-native operational software.

Partneralization hooks

1Reference his emphasis on customer and market validation when framing traction.
2Tie the product to the modern data stack, DevOps, cybersecurity, or cloud-native infrastructure if applicable.
3Use Highspot or Stacklok as reference points only when the product has a credible B2B software or developer-platform connection.

Recent signals

What the partner has said or done recently

Co-authored a 2025 Madrona post on AI-native service management and Ravenna.
Madrona profile lists recent podcast activity on customer obsession, agentic AI, and Highspot scaling lessons.

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