'You don't need to crash a plane to...': Adam Robinson's April tweet goes viral after entrepreneur's death in Florida plane crash

Adam Robinson, 44, was among the nine people killed when a Learjet 60 went down in Palm Beach County in Florida, on Sunday. Everybody on board died. Adam was a tech entrepreneur who was know for buidling succesful software businesses without any venture capital. He had once compared flying a plane to starting a company, writing one did not need to crash a flight or get outside funding. This old tweet is now finding renewed attention, as the tragic fatal accident is being investigated.

Adam Robinson's old tweet goes viral after his death

Robinson's April post has attracted attention following news of the crash. In the tweet, he wrote, “You don't need to crash a plane to learn to fly ... and you don't need VC to build a business.”

Who was Adam Robinson?

The 44-year-old Austin-based entrepreneur was the founder and CEO of Retention.com and RB2B. Both companies built software tools that help businesses identify website visitors and access business-to-business contact information.


Robinson was known for growing multi-million-dollar software companies without raising venture capital. Before entering the startup world, he worked on Wall Street at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital. He later launched several businesses, including one that he eventually sold.

What happened in the Florida plane crash?

According to the Associated Press, the Learjet 60 crashed in Greenacres, around seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach, on Sunday. All nine people aboard were killed, including Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp and their two young children.

A federal investigator said the aircraft likely began breaking apart before hitting the ground. It made a steep nosedive, leaving a crater and a wide debris field before bursting into flames.

The victims also included 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, who made the plane's final radio transmissions. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Authorities said weather conditions would be among the first areas examined, alongside the crew's actions and possible mechanical problems.