NEWYou can now listen to articles!
An Austin tech founder who was killed alongside his wife and two young children in a fiery Florida jet crash had just celebrated a major business milestone and was making plans for a live event Tuesday in what became his final LinkedIn post.
Adam Robinson, 45, his wife, Helen Sharp, 40, and their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were among nine people killed Sunday when the Learjet 60 carrying them from Austin to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas plunged into a Palm Beach County neighborhood.
Days before the crash, Robinson wrote that RB2B had reached $10 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR).
FORIDA PLANE CRASH VICTIMS IDENTIFIED AFTER 9 PEOPLE KILLED IN FIERY WRECK
Adam Robinson and his wife, Helen Sharp, were traveling with their two young children when the Learjet carrying them from Texas to the Bahamas crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 1. ()
“RB2B is $10m ARR with 1 FTE,” Robinson wrote. “MoltSets is almost $1m ARR.”
Two months earlier, Robinson said RB2B was generating $9.5 million in annual recurring revenue and described reaching $10 million with a small team as “the promised land.”
Robinson was CEO and co-founder of Retention.com, an Austin-based company that helps businesses identify people who visit their websites and reach them with advertising and marketing.
The company later launched RB2B, which helps businesses identify potential customers visiting their websites. Robinson also led MoltSets, which provides business contact information, including work emails and phone numbers.
PRIVATE JET WITH 9 PEOPLE ON BOARD CRASHES JUST MILES FROM MAR-A-LAGO
Adam Robinson sits on a boat with one of his young children. Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, and their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were killed in the Nov. 1 Learjet crash in Palm Beach County, Florida. (Credit: Adam Robinson LinkedIn)
In his final post, Robinson described a debate with friend Jesse Ouellette over whether RB2B and MoltSets should remain separate or be combined.
Robinson wrote that Ouellette believed combining them could reduce customer turnover and double revenue, while he favored keeping the products separate.
“My question: WHY DO I NEED TO DO EITHER OF THOSE THINGS?” Robinson wrote.
“Honestly, I’d be thrilled if RB2B never grew another dollar,” he added.
FORMER NFL STAR SAYS HE PREVIOUSLY FLEW ON PRIVATE JET THAT CRASHED IN FLORIDA: ‘ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED’
The two planned to settle their disagreement during a live debate Tuesday on “Claude Did What!!??”
“So we’re settling it LIVE,” Robinson wrote.
“There’s much more to his argument, but I’m saving it for Tuesday,” he added. “Grab some popcorn and pick a side.”
Adam Robinson was CEO and co-founder of Retention.com and also led RB2B and MoltSets. His companies remembered him as “a friend, a mentor and a bold, outspoken leader who lived life to the fullest.” ()
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Robinson never made it to the debate.
The Robinson family was remembered in a joint statement provided to Digital.
“Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives. Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever,” the families said.
Adam Robinson and his family (Courtesy of the Robinson, Sharp, Reed, Fehr and Cetina families via Red Banyan)
SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS
“Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives. Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE FOX TRUE CRIME HUB
Retention.com, RB2B and MoltSets also remembered Robinson as “a friend, a mentor and a bold, outspoken leader who lived life to the fullest.”
A Learjet 60 crashed into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday afternoon. (Palm Beach County Fire Rescue)
SEND US A TIP
“He cared deeply about the people around him and brought energy and conviction to everything he built,” the companies said. “His loss is deeply felt across our team and the tech community, as we collectively mourn this significant loss.”
GOT A TIP?
The Learjet departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at about 10:37 a.m. Sunday with two crew members and seven passengers aboard.
The private jet dropped rapidly before an explosion sent thick smoke and flames into the air across the modular home community. (Aki Kuusisto via Storyful)
LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST
The crew reported light clear ice and moderate turbulence at about 35,000 feet before requesting 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.
Emergency crews shut down Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, warning the public to avoid the area as flames consumed the wreckage. (Aki Kuusisto via Storyful)
GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL
Federal investigators said Monday that weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation and that there are indications the aircraft began breaking apart before impact.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP
The cause of the crash has not been determined.
