Rob Williams, co-founder of one of the UK’s leading online companies Dolphin Music, died in a skiing accident yesterday evening while on holiday in the Swiss Alps. Mr Williams, 29, had been part of a group break for UK entrepreneurs in the ski resort of Verbier. He became separated from his group during very harsh weather conditions. His family and work colleagues have now been informed.
Although several members of the holiday group of entrepreneurs had left by Monday night, Williams and his co-founder and friend Jason Tavaria had stayed on to ski, but visibilty was reduced to near zero as a blizzard descended. The two men became over-due for return to their chalet and a search was launched. The two became separated in deep snow, but Jason was found by a mountain rescue team. Rob remained missing until his body was discovered later.
The hunt for Rob and Jason has been well documented online and involved his friends frantically attempting to use Twitter, GPS and iPhones to try and pinpoint their location. Although the technology used may well have been of some help to the search party, it is likely that Verbier’s Mountain Rescue team was far more instrumental in Jason’s rescue. Whatever the circumstance – and no doubt more details will come out in due course – tragically, Rob had become separated from his friend in harsh blizzard conditions that any technology probably became useless.
I just got off the phone to one member of the trip. They said: “Everyone literally said they’d just had the best time on the trip. And then it went straight to the opposite. We are all in shock.”
I never knew Rob, but on behalf of myself and TechCrunch, we’d like to pass on our deepest sympathies to his family. Below, I have put together a small tribute to Rob’s considerable achievements at Dolphin. We give thanks for Jason’s safe return. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rob’s family and with his friends in Verbier right now.
[This post will continue to be updated if there is any further information to impart].
Update: Other news outlets have now picked up the story
Sky News
Daily Mail
The Daily Telegraph
Press Association
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Rob launched Dolphin Enterprises – today one of the leading providers of musical equipment on the internet in the UK – with Jason while they were still at university in September 1999. Rob was originally responsible for creating Dolphin’s original php/MySQL web application and running its platform thereafter.
The pair had been friends since school in St Albans, selling everything from computer games to magazines to the other kids in the playground.
The two friends used their student loans to start the business. Like many typical startups they ran the business from home, but it has since grown to a staff of over 65 with turnover of £13m. In 2007 it was ranked Britain’s 11th fastest-growing company. They also opened retail stores in Liverpool, Gateshead and Huddersfield and had plans to expand into Europe and the Far East. Along with Jason, Rob was profiled in The Daily Telegraph in December last year. Dolphin Music was also presented with an award for Best Performing Business at the Kick Start Awards.
In December 2007 Dolphin Music was named in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list for the second year running. The Liverpool-based musical instrument retailer was listed as the 37th fastest growing company in the UK, and was the only retailer to appear in the list. Dolphin is also on Twitter.
Rob was a great supporter of schemes to help young people into the entrepreneurial life, supporting the government’s Make Your Mark initiative. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.
I was following the tweets of Alex Hoye (http://twitter.com/alexhoye) and was hoping everything would be OK; sadly not. Hope that Jason will pull through it. Thoughts are with Rob’s family, friends and everyone on the trip.
Sucks. Didn’t know him, but he was a friend of a tweep of a tweep.
It’s no consolation to his family and friends, but he had a lot of people trying to help.
Very sad news – thoughts are with his friends and family.
I followed what was happening through Hermione and Michelle’s Tweets. So sorry to hear the news and my thoughts are with Rob’s family and everyone who was on that trip.
Very sad to hear, my wishes are with everyone who knew him.
very sorry to know about this sad news
My thoughts are with Rob’s friends and family. I saw Alex Hoye’s tweets yesterday and have been holding my breath ever since. My condolences.
How could Rob not be an inspiration to people young and old. From a dream to reality – he did it!
To Robs family and friends, my condolences and most sincere regrets.
jW
sorry to know about this sad news.
Sad to hear.. Condolence..
Tragic, and very sad. I didn’t know him but my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
That’s really a tragedy.
how very sad – my sympathies
I ski in Switzerland everyday and you have to have a clue about the weather it roles in fast and nasty we had around 4 foot dumped in a matter of hours the other day,
The sad thing is that this happens on a regular basis, and taking normal weather circumstances around other parts of the EU is extremely stupid, it gets COLD very fast.
All skiers that have money for F&*CK sake by RECO storm weather gear that can be tracked by mountain rescue.
Thank you
For those searching for RECO gear mentioned in @Batman’s post, it’s actually called RECCO
Tragic, definitely a tough situation for the family…always tough when they’re out to have a fun.
DB
Very sad news. As a person h was amazing. Always had a smile and a nice word to everyone. As a boss…can’t really fault it. It is indeed a great loss and my sympathies go to his family and friends.
He will be greatly missed.
Life REALLY sucks sometimes how good people are taken from us. My thoughts are with his friends and family.
sad stuff. RIP
After working with him for 9 months and only speaking to him Thursday just gone I am in total shock. Rob had a vision many struggle to grasp and he was always moving forward. I feel privileged to have worked with him and my thoughts are with his family. Dolpin music will never be the same again.
R.I.P Rob
Felt stunned all day – didnt know Rob but picked up on the crisis late last night – early morning ’silence’ seemd ominous…but I guess like everyone else was hoping for the miracle that never came. As I said I didnt know Rob but Twitter seems to provide a much needed 21st Century community and that community is collectively hurting.
I only met Rob once and really came across as a genuine, friendly, down-to-earth guy. He achieved more in 29 years than most people do in a lifetime. Its such a waste. My thoughts are with his friends and family.
very sorry to know it..
Another tragedy indeed– one which most likely could have been avoided. An iPhone? Relying on Twitter? You’ve got to be kidding me. If you thrill seek ANY big mountain freeride– especially terrain well beyond your abilities– ALWAYS carry a beacon, probe, AvaLung, survival pack and adventure specific GPS unit. When in distress stay put– do not venture– call for help– and most importantly– DO NOT PANIC. Unfortunately for this party they obviously erred immensely in not taking a simple $25 backcountry survival course which ultimately could have saved a life. Heck– they were lucky to even get a signal on an iPhone let alone “tweet” for help.
Tragic loss, I follow Michelle on Twitter and sadly saw the updates unfold via tweetdeck. Thoughts are obviously with family and friends at this sad time
You can shed tears that he has gone
Or you can smile because he has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all he has left
Your heart can be empty because you cannot see him
Or you can be full of the love you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or your can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember him and only that he has gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on
You can try and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he would want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on
Really feel for all of Robs family and friends,he was a great guy and always made me smile with his laid back attitude and sharp wit! Rest in peace Rob.
Williams, Robert View/Sign Guest Book
Robert (Rob), aged 29, beloved son of Peter and Elhan and brother of Emma, died tragically in a snowboarding accident in Verbier Switzerland on 2nd March 2009. Funeral service will be held on Thursday 19th March 2009 at 11am in St Albans Abbey, Sumpter Yard (off Holywell Hill), St Albans followed by a private cremation. Afterwards at Sopwell House Hotel in St Albans. No flowers please. Donations may be made to the Princes Trust, please see http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/robwilliams. He will be sorely missed by his family, his business partner and lifelong friend, all the staff of Dolphin Music, all in the music industry, and his circle of social friends. Rest In Peace.
A memorial service for Rob Williams of Dolphin Music will be on Mon 6 April, 4.30pm at Adam St, London.
I did’t know him.
Regards,J-FThe fact that one man with no understanding of the technical issues made the decision for a committee thats opinions were ignored is ridiculous. ,
The syntax of specifiers and heads. ,