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North
AcquiredYC W13YC Top CompanyKitchener, CA · 51 employees · 11 known investors
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Thalmic Labs manufactures wearable armbands that detect electrical muscle signals to enable wireless control of computers and mobile devices. The company serves users seeking alternative interaction methods with digital technology.
Also known as North Inc. (fka Thalmic Labs, Inc.) · Thalmic · North Inc. · Thalmic Labs
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (W13)
Investors · 11
How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
Company profile
researched Aug 2026North, previously known as Thalmic Labs, is a wearable computing hardware company based in Kitchener, Canada, that focused on biosignal gesture recognition as a means of interacting with digital devices. Its first product, the Myo armband, measured electrical activity in muscles to wirelessly control computers, phones and other digital technologies [1].
The company was founded in 2012 by three graduates of the University of Waterloo's mechatronics engineering program — Stephen Lake, Matthew Bailey and Aaron Grant — and grew into a team of engineers, researchers and product developers working on wearable technology [1]. A later regional startup roundup associates the company with the Focals by North smart glasses product and augmented reality applications [2].
Founding story
According to Y Combinator, Thalmic Labs was founded in 2012 by Stephen Lake, Matthew Bailey and Aaron Grant, all graduates of the University of Waterloo's mechatronics engineering program. The company joined Y Combinator's Winter 2013 batch [1].
Business model
Sources indicate the company designed and sold wearable computing hardware products, beginning with the Myo armband, but do not describe pricing, channels or contract structures [1].
Traction
Y Combinator reports a team size of 51 and states the company raised over $140 million USD from investors including Spark Capital, Intel Capital and Y Combinator [1].
Latest developments
Y Combinator lists North's status as acquired, and a regional startup roundup states the company was acquired by Google, with its wearable and augmented reality work continuing within Google's hardware solutions [1][2]. Co-founder Stephen Lake is described as now being the founder of Jetson [1].
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
The company is characterized by Y Combinator as pioneering new ways of interacting with digital devices in wearable computing [1], and is listed among notable startups associated with the Kitchener-Waterloo technology ecosystem [2].
Its distinguishing approach was the use of electromyographic (muscle electrical activity) signals captured by an armband for gesture-based, wireless control of digital devices, rather than conventional input methods [1].
Technology
The company's technology centered on biosignal gesture recognition in wearable hardware. The Myo armband measured electrical activity in muscles to enable wireless control of computers, phones and other digital devices [1]. Later work is described as involving augmented reality applications through the Focals by North product line [2].
Go-to-market
Sources describe the products as consumer-oriented wearables for controlling computers, phones and other digital technologies, but do not specify customer segments in detail [1].
Geography
The company is listed with a location in Kitchener, Canada [1], and is described as part of the Kitchener-Waterloo regional technology ecosystem [2].
History
Founded in 2012 as Thalmic Labs, the company participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2013 batch and later operated under the name North with the domain bynorth.com [1]. It shipped the Myo armband for muscle-signal-based device control and later became associated with the Focals by North wearable product [1][2]. Y Combinator lists the company's status as acquired, and a Kitchener-Waterloo startup listicle states it was acquired by Google [1][2]. Founder Stephen Lake is described as subsequently founding Jetson [1].
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Founder mafia
2 people who came through North went on to found or lead other companies.
Related companies · 4
Companies working in the same space as North.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsA Kitchener-Waterloo startup roundup describes North (formerly Thalmic Labs) as officially acquired by Google, with its wearable/augmented reality work, including Focals by North, continuing within Google's hardware efforts. No acquisition date or amount is given by the source.
North (Thalmic Labs) is listed in Y Combinator's Winter 2013 batch under the Hardware and Biometrics categories.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 2
corporate structure▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- NORTH.CLOUD SECURES $5M AND LAUNCHES NEW OPERATING SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED CLOUD OPTIMIZATION AND MANAGEMENTprnewswire.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does North do?
- North (formerly Thalmic Labs) built wearable computing hardware using biosignal gesture recognition; now listed as acquired.
- Who founded North?
- North was founded by Stephen Lake, Matthew Bailey, Aaron Grant.
- Who are North's investors?
- North's investors include Y Combinator, Acequia Capital (AceCap), Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), First Round Capital, Formation Group, FundersClub, Garage Capital, Inovia Capital and 3 more.
- Where is North headquartered?
- North is headquartered in Kitchener, CA.