Smart lock maker Level has been gutted and its founders are out

2026-06-26 · Source: The Verge · Field: Technology & Digital — Internet of Things (IoT) & Connected Devices, Corporate Strategy & Leadership · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Smart lock maker Level Home has undergone a significant restructuring by its parent company, Assa Abloy, which acquired Level Home in 2024. The majority of Level Home's staff, including co-founders CEO John Martin and CTO Ken Goto, have been laid off, and the business is being integrated into Kwikset, another Assa Abloy-owned smart lock company. While Assa Abloy confirmed the restructuring and stated its commitment to developing and supporting the Level Lock platform and hardware, and maintaining customer support, a source familiar with the decision expressed concerns about the company's capacity to preserve Level's hundreds of thousands of active users. Users of Level Locks could potentially lose access to app-dependent features like auto-unlock and door status sensing if cloud services are discontinued, though locks upgraded to Matter or Apple HomeKit would retain basic local functionality.

Key takeaway

For smart home device users considering new purchases, this restructuring highlights the inherent risks of cloud-dependent products following corporate acquisitions. You should prioritize smart locks or other devices offering local control options, such as Matter or Apple HomeKit integration. This ensures core functionality persists even if cloud services are discontinued. Always verify a company's long-term commitment to an acquired brand and its cloud infrastructure before investing heavily.

Key insights

Corporate acquisitions can lead to significant workforce reductions and integration challenges for acquired brands.

Principles

• Acquired brands face integration risks.
• Cloud-dependent features are vulnerable post-acquisition.
• Local connectivity enhances device resilience.

In practice

• Evaluate smart device cloud dependencies.
• Prioritize devices with local control options.
• Monitor acquisition news for service impacts.

Topics

• Smart Locks
• Corporate Acquisitions
• Level Home
• Assa Abloy
• Cloud Service Dependency
• Matter Protocol

Best for: Investor, CTO, Executive, Tech Journalist, Product Manager, General Interest

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by The Verge.