Tola Capital
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle, Washington, USA
- Sectors
- Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
- Founded
- 2010
- Type
- LLC Seattle business license
- Employees
- 57
- Registered name
- Tola Capital Seattle business license
Efficient Computer Raises $97M Series B at $650M Valuation; Outmarket AI Secures $34.5M Series B After Reaching 10,000 Users
A roundup of recent VC deals: Efficient Computer raised $97M Series B at a $650M valuation to scale its energy‑efficient data‑flow processors; Outmarket AI raised $34.5M Series B after reaching 10,000 users; Ascerta and ArkeaBio also announced funding along with other investors.
Seattle Startup Pulumi Launches AI Agent Neo to Automate Cloud Infrastructure with a Third of Workforce
Seattle startup Pulumi launched Neo, an AI agent automating cloud infrastructure tasks such as provisioning, security, and compliance, developed by a third of its 130-person workforce. Neo uses large language models, primarily Claude, integrates with various AI developer tools, and aims to address bottlenecks faced by platform teams amid increasing developer demands.
Nikesh Parekh Advises Microsoft and Amazon Execs on Engaging with Seattle Startups as Advisors, Board Members, and Investors
Nikesh Parekh shares a guide for Microsoft and Amazon employees on engaging with the Seattle startup ecosystem through roles like advisors or board members and by strategic investing, highlighting common practices and compensation details.
Microsoft Veteran Vahé Torossian Joins Tola Capital as Venture Partner; Allen Institute Names Sarah Norris Hall CFO
Vahé Torossian left Builder.ai to join Tola Capital as a venture partner, leveraging his extensive Microsoft and startup experience to support AI-focused enterprise software startups. Additionally, Sarah Norris Hall became CFO of the Allen Institute, bringing over 16 years of financial leadership from the University of Washington.
New Venture Partner Joins Tola Capital, a $700M VC Focused on AI-Powered Enterprise Software
A new Venture Partner has joined Tola Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in AI-powered enterprise software with $700 million in assets under management and over 40 portfolio companies. The partner expresses enthusiasm for working with the team led by Sheila Gulati and contributing to early-stage AI enterprise ventures.
Experienced Executive Joins Tola Capital as Venture Partner to Support Early-Stage AI Enterprise Startups
A new Venture Partner has joined Tola Capital, a VC firm specializing in AI-powered enterprise software with $700M AUM and 40+ portfolio companies, aiming to leverage executive experience to support early-stage AI ventures. They will collaborate with founder Sheila Gulati and contribute to scaling visionary startups in enterprise AI.
Microsoft Veteran Vahé Torossian Joins Tola Capital as Venture Partner to Drive Portfolio Growth
Vahé Torossian, a seasoned technology leader formerly at Microsoft, has joined Tola Capital as a Venture Partner to support portfolio company growth with his strategic and leadership expertise. The announcement highlights his proven track record in global growth, strategic partnerships, and AI-driven innovation.
Tola Capital Names Former Microsoft Executive Vahé Torossian as Venture Partner to Boost Portfolio Growth
Tola Capital announces the appointment of Vahé Torossian, an experienced technology leader formerly at Microsoft, as a Venture Partner to help accelerate portfolio company growth. The company highlights his strategic insight and leadership as key assets for guiding CEOs.
Seattle Has Fewer Than 20 Unicorn Startups Amid Top AI Talent and Tech Giants in 2025
Seattle hosts fewer than 20 unicorn startups, representing about 1.5% of global unicorns as of January 2025, despite having a dense tech talent pool and being a prime location for AI businesses. Industry leaders argue that the number of unicorns alone is a poor measure of regional tech success, pointing to Seattle's strengths in AI, cloud giants, and fast-growing startups.
Pay-i announces $4.9M seed round as Bellevue startup launches ROI platform for generative AI
Bellevue-based Pay-i, an intelligence platform that measures returns from generative AI investments, announced it is coming out of stealth with $4.9 million in seed funding and is now generally available across major cloud providers and models. The September 2023-founded startup — led by co-founders David Tepper, Doron Holan and Erik Winters — will use the funds to accelerate product development and expand enterprise adoption.
Microsoft Veterans’ Startup Pay-i Raises $4.9M to Quantify ROI of Generative AI Investments
Seattle startup Pay-i, founded by Microsoft veterans, raised $4.9 million to develop software that measures the ROI of generative AI initiatives by linking usage data to business KPIs. The company aims to provide real-time insights on AI value creation and projects over $2 million ARR by 2026.
Pioneer Square Labs' Greg Gottesman Forecasts Generative AI Will Transform Venture Capital Operations by 2033
Greg Gottesman of Pioneer Square Labs predicts venture capital will fundamentally change in the next 5-10 years, increasingly leveraging generative AI to provide startups with more than just funding, including operational and coding support. Sheila Gulati of Tola Capital adds that early-stage investing is becoming more democratized, with a broader investor pool amid the recent AI-driven revival in venture capital.
West Point Grads Rob Hammond and Eddie Kang Launch Gray Line Partners Investing $11.5M in AI-Driven SaaS Growth
Gray Line Partners, a new Seattle-based early growth equity firm led by West Point graduates Rob Hammond and Eddie Kang, invests in SaaS companies with $2-$10 million ARR that prioritize efficiency and sustainable growth. Leveraging AI technologies, Gray Line aims to boost profitability and reduce reliance on heavy venture capital, recently leading an $11.5 million round for AI-driven security company Actuate.
Tola Capital co-founder Sheila Gulati raises $230 million third fund, firm totals $688 million in capital
Seattle venture capital firm Tola Capital, co-founded by Sheila Gulati, raised a $230 million third fund in November and has already made multiple investments, bringing the firm's total capital raised to $688 million. Gulati, whose early exposure to tech influenced her career, runs the AI-focused firm that has backed companies like Simpplr and B12.
Seattle’s Tola Capital Raises $230M Third Fund to Back 25–30 Early-Stage AI and Enterprise Software Startups
Seattle-based Tola Capital has raised $230 million for its third fund aimed at investing in 25-30 early-stage AI and enterprise software startups, focusing on cloud computing and AI innovation. Founded by former Microsoft managers Sheila Gulati and Stacey Giard, Tola has invested in over 20 companies and plans seed to Series B investments ranging from $1 million to $15 million.
Pulumi Raises $41M Led by Madrona to Expand Infrastructure as Code Platform and AI Innovations
Seattle-based cloud startup Pulumi raised $41 million in a Series C round led by Madrona Venture Group to expand its infrastructure as code platform and develop new AI-powered products. Pulumi serves over 2,000 customers including half of the Fortune 50, with revenues doubling in the past year.
Tola Capital Files to Raise $400M Third Fund; Seattle-Area VC Led by Sheila Gulati and Stacey Giard Manages $440M
Seattle-area venture firm Tola Capital is raising $400 million for its third fund, according to an SEC filing; the firm, led by former Microsoft managers Sheila Gulati and Stacey Giard, currently manages $440 million and has invested in over 20 companies.
Former Microsoft VP and ex-RingCentral CRO Phil Sorgen joins Tola Capital as venture partner
Phil Sorgen, a former Microsoft corporate vice president and most recently RingCentral chief revenue officer, has joined Seattle-area investment firm Tola Capital as a venture partner; Tola manages $440 million and focuses on enterprise software.
Seattle VCs Report 28% Women in Senior Roles, Nearly Double U.S. Average of 14.2%
Seattle-area venture capital firms have nearly double the national share of women in senior roles (28% vs. 14.2%), with 25 women among 88 partners across 21 Washington firms, though overall parity remains distant and 61% of U.S. VC firms still have no women in key decision-making roles.
Armoire raises $3.5M from Satya Nadella, Aman Bhutani after pivoting to casual inventory and community tools
Seattle clothing subscription service Armoire adapted to pandemic-driven demand shifts by cutting costs, adding casual items, and building community-driven discovery tools, helping long-tenured members stay. The four-year-old startup raised $3.5 million from investors including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and GoDaddy CEO Aman Bhutani as it regains growth momentum.
Seattle Reaches 10 Unicorns Worth $1B+, Mostly Enterprise Software Firms with Microsoft Links
Seattle now has 10 unicorn startups valued at $1 billion or more, many concentrated in enterprise software/cloud computing and driven by rapid digital transformation and strong revenue run rates. Most have immigrant founders and Microsoft ties, but none have female co-founders or CEOs.
NEA leads $37.5M Series B in Seattle cloud startup Pulumi, bringing total funding to $57.5M
Seattle startup Pulumi raised $37.5 million in a Series B led by NEA, bringing its total funding to $57.5 million to expand R&D and sales/marketing. NEA partner Aaron Jacobson will join Pulumi’s board alongside existing investors Madrona Venture Group and Tola Capital.
Smartsheet CFO Jennifer Ceran joins Auth0 board; Auth0 hires three execs; Outreach opens NYC office led by David Rubinstein
Smartsheet CFO Jennifer Ceran joined the board of Bellevue identity provider Auth0 as she prepares to retire, and Auth0 added three senior hires: Holly Files (SVP customer success), Cassio Sampaio (VP product) and Ken Oestreich (VP product marketing). Separately, Seattle sales-engagement firm Outreach is opening a New York City office led by David Rubinstein as part of its U.S. and international expansion.
People
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Sheila Gulati Founder, Founder and Managing Director
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Jacob Nibley Executive, Vice President
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Sophia Lu Executive, Vice President
