Adam Robinson, a former Wall Street professional who built a portfolio of technology businesses, was among nine people killed when a private Learjet 60 crashed in Florida while travelling to the Bahamas.

The 45-year-old entrepreneur died alongside his wife, Helen Sharp, their two young children and five other people aboard the aircraft. The crash occurred near Greenacres in Palm Beach County on November 1, 2026.

Robinson was known for building software companies without relying heavily on venture capital. His career spanned investment banking, email marketing and artificial intelligence-powered business technology.

The crash has drawn attention to his entrepreneurial journey, his views on building businesses and the family life he had described as his greatest achievement.

Who Was Adam Robinson? From Lehman Brothers to AI Startups

Robinson grew up in Houston, Texas, and attended Rice University, where he graduated in 2003 with a degree in economics, Spanish and managerial studies.

He also played basketball for the university, earning two varsity letters during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

After graduating, Robinson moved to New York City and began working as a credit trader at Lehman Brothers. He continued working in finance after the investment bank collapsed during the 2008 financial crisis, when Barclays absorbed much of its business.

Robinson spent approximately a decade on Wall Street before moving into entrepreneurship.

He later described the financial industry as lucrative but said he wanted to pursue work that offered greater personal fulfilment.

His early exposure to technology entrepreneurs in New York helped shape his decision to enter the startup industry.

How Robinson Built His Technology Businesses

Robinson co-founded Robly, an email marketing platform, before developing businesses focused on identifying website visitors and helping companies reach potential customers.

A feature developed at Robly to identify email addresses associated with website traffic became popular among customers. Robinson and his business partners eventually spun the technology into GetEmails.

He later founded Retention.com and RB2B, businesses that use technology to identify anonymous website visitors and provide companies with business contact information.

Robinson’s companies operated on a relatively lean model, relying on revenue rather than substantial outside investment.

He became an advocate for bootstrapping, arguing that entrepreneurs could build successful technology businesses without depending on venture capital.

In an April 2026 social media post, Robinson wrote: “You don’t need to crash a plane to learn to fly … and you don’t need VC to build a business.”

The post gained renewed attention following the crash.

Robinson’s Family Life and Business Philosophy

Robinson had spoken publicly about changing his approach to work after spending years in finance.

He said he wanted to avoid the long working hours that had affected other professionals’ relationships with their families.

In an April post, he recalled how people he knew on Wall Street worked 70, 80 or even 90 hours a week for their families, only to discover that their families wanted more of their presence.

He said he had decided early in his startup career that he would not follow that pattern.

Robinson described leaving work early, switching off his laptop and prioritising time with his children.

His wife, Helen Sharp, was a ceramic artist who had also worked in public relations. The couple had two children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2.

The family had relocated to Aspen, Colorado, where Robinson said he enjoyed spending time with his children and building businesses without extensive travel.

What Happened in the Florida Learjet Crash?

The Learjet 60, registered as N722BD, departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas at approximately 10:37 a.m. local time on November 1.

The aircraft was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, carrying seven passengers and two crew members.

It crashed near Greenacres in Palm Beach County at approximately 12:50 p.m., striking a roadway and triggering a large fire.

All nine people aboard were killed.

The victims included Robinson, Sharp, their children, their nanny Anita Maria Cetina, and family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. The two pilots also died.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

According to preliminary information released by investigators, the crew reported light clear icing and moderate turbulence while flying at approximately 35,000 feet.

The pilots later reported precipitation and requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet.

Less than 30 seconds later, the aircraft began a rapid descent and the crew issued a mayday call.

Investigators have said it is too early to determine the cause of the crash. Weather conditions, aircraft systems and flight-recording equipment are among the areas being examined.