Adam Lamb and Daniel Lawrence Barnes developed Bye Bye Button as a way to get out of unwanted conversations without having to make an excuse. Their device is a small wireless button that triggers an incoming call on the user’s smartphone. Someone stuck in a long meeting, an awkward date or an uncomfortable social situation can press the button discreetly and use the call as a reason to leave.
Lamb and Barnes were longtime friends who had worked together on several products and businesses. Lamb specialized in embedded electronics and software, while Barnes worked in construction and developed custom homes in the Bozeman and Big Sky area of Montana. Together they established AEA Lab, an engineering business that designs electronic devices and the software that controls them. Their projects included systems for monitoring refrigeration equipment, tracking water consumption and controlling home heating and cooling.
Bye Bye Button grew out of that work with connected devices. The pair designed a small key fob that communicates with a smartphone app, allowing users to trigger a call without taking out their phones. The app lets them choose the name that appears as the caller and decide whether they want a call or text message. Unlike a simple alarm or recorded ringtone, the system generates an incoming phone call even when the app is closed and the phone is locked.
Lamb and Barnes developed the product under Ejection Seat LLC, using their experience in hardware and software to build both the physical button and the service behind it. The device could be attached to a keychain or carried in a pocket, while the app handled the setup and incoming calls. They offered the button for sale through their own website, with access to the calling service included rather than requiring a separate subscription.
The founders also developed Bye Bye Bailout, a version of the service that does not require a physical button. Users can schedule a call ahead of time through an app, providing a similar excuse to leave a meeting or other event at a planned time. The app was awaiting approval for distribution through mobile app stores in October 2026.
Another project extended the same wireless technology to a more serious use. Rescue Ring allows users to press a key fob to contact selected family members or friends. The system can send a prepared message requesting help and can include the user’s location. Lamb and Barnes built working hardware and software for Rescue Ring and began gathering interest from potential customers while completing legal and product development work.
