Smart lock maker Level gutted, founders ousted

Assa Abloy has gutted the staff of Level Home, the smart lock company celebrated for embedding hidden electronics into traditional-looking deadbolts, and is absorbing the business into its Kwikset division, a source familiar with the move told The Verge.

The layoffs hit the majority of Level’s workforce, and the company’s founders have been ousted as part of a broader restructuring. A person with direct knowledge of the situation, who requested anonymity because they were among those laid off, shared an audio recording of a meeting where executives delivered the news. In the recording, Peter Boriskin, CTO for Assa Abloy North America, and Kimberly Cummins, head of North American HR, told staff that their positions were eliminated immediately, citing “a part of a larger restructure” within the organization.

Level’s signature innovation was integrating the battery, motor, and all smart lock components directly into the deadbolt itself, allowing the lock to maintain a classic, minimalist appearance. This design earned the company a loyal following and partnerships with platforms like Apple Home Key. However, under Assa Abloy’s ownership, the brand’s independent identity is now being folded into Kwikset, a mass-market lock manufacturer. The decision signals a strategic retreat from Level’s premium, design-forward approach in favor of a more consolidated product line.