Adam Robinson, CEO of Retention.com, dies in Florida jet crash days after hitting $10M revenue

Adam Robinson, the 45-year-old CEO and co-founder of Retention.com, died Sunday in a fiery jet crash in Florida. He was traveling with his wife, Helen Sharp, 40, and their two young children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. All four were among the nine people killed when the Learjet 60 plunged into a Palm Beach County neighborhood.

Robinson had just reached a major financial milestone for his business. On the day of the crash, he posted on LinkedIn that his company, RB2B, had reached $10 million in annual recurring revenue. He noted that the company achieved this with only one full-time employee. He also reported that his second venture, MoltSets, was approaching $1 million in annual recurring revenue.

Two months before the crash, Robinson described the path to $10 million in revenue with a small team as "the promised land." At that time, RB2B was generating $9.5 million in annual recurring revenue. Robinson’s primary company, Retention.com, is based in Austin and helps businesses identify website visitors for advertising purposes. RB2B identifies potential customers, while MoltSets provides business contact information such as work emails and phone numbers.

In his final social media post, Robinson outlined plans for a live event scheduled for Tuesday. He described a debate with his friend Jesse Ouellette regarding the future structure of their businesses. Ouellette argued that combining RB2B and MoltSets would reduce customer turnover and double revenue. Robinson preferred to keep the products separate.

Robinson wrote, "My question: WHY DO I NEED TO DO EITHER OF THOSE THINGS?" He added that he would be thrilled if RB2B never grew another dollar. The two men planned to settle the disagreement during a live debate on the show "Claude Did What!!?" Robinson invited followers to watch, saying, "So we're settling it LIVE.. Grab some popcorn and pick a side." He did not make it to the broadcast.

The Learjet departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 10:37 a.m. Sunday. The aircraft carried two crew members and seven passengers. The crew reported light clear ice and moderate turbulence at 35,000 feet. They then requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet. Less than 30 seconds after the request was approved, the crew reported they were descending and issued a mayday call.

Federal investigators stated on Monday that weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation. They also indicated that the aircraft began breaking apart before it hit the ground. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

In a joint statement, the families of Robinson and Sharp called the couple "devoted parents" and described their children as "the light of their lives." The families noted that the couple's warmth and generosity touched many lives. Retention.com, RB2B, and MoltSets remembered Robinson as a mentor and a bold leader who lived life to the fullest. The companies said his loss is deeply felt across the team and the tech community.