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OMsignal is a technology company.
OMsignal develops biometric smartwear, specifically shirts, by integrating advanced sensors directly into the fabric. These garments continuously monitor vital physiological data, including heart rate, breathing, and activity levels. Embedded technology seamlessly transmits real-time health metrics to connected smart devices, offering discreet, integrated insights into physical performance and well-being.
Stephane Marceau co-founded OMsignal in 2011, establishing the company in Montreal. The core insight involved integrating sophisticated health monitoring directly into clothing, offering a less intrusive alternative to wearables. Marceau envisioned enabling constant, intuitive understanding of the body’s biometrics, making smart garments a seamless part of daily life.
OMsignal targets individuals dedicated to fitness, health optimization, and physiological insights. The company’s vision empowers users by transforming everyday clothing into intelligent tools for proactive health management. Delivering accessible, continuous biometric feedback, OMsignal aims to foster a deeper connection to one’s body and inspire sustained self-improvement.
OMsignal has raised $21.0M across 3 funding rounds.
OMsignal has raised $21.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
OMsignal has raised $21.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
OMsignal's investors include Relay Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Chicago Ventures, DFJ, Freestyle Capital, Harrison Metal, MATH Venture Partners, OMERS Ventures, Quiet Capital, Summit Partners, Techstars, Mark Britto.
OMsignal was a pioneering Canadian technology company founded in 2011 that developed bio-sensing smart clothing integrating sensors into garments like undershirts, sports bras, and polos to monitor vital signs such as ECG, heart rate, breathing rate, activity, and fatigue in real-time via connected apps.[1][2][3][4][5] It targeted fitness enthusiasts, athletes, and wellness users, solving the problem of cumbersome wearables by embedding medical-grade biometrics directly into comfortable, washable apparel for continuous, always-on health insights without devices like watches or chest straps.[1][2][3] The company raised $24.51M total, including a $1.5M seed and $10M Series A, partnered with Ralph Lauren, but ceased operations in December 2019 after declaring bankruptcy, selling patents to Honeywell.[1][2][5]
OMsignal was founded in 2011 in Montreal by Stéphane Marceau and Frédéric Chanay, experts blending wearable tech, fashion, and health, at a time when fitness trackers were emerging but lacked seamless integration into clothing.[2][5] The idea emerged from extending wrist-worn wearables into "bio-aware fashion," with early development of sensor-woven undershirts announced in 2013 for continuous ECG, breathing, and activity tracking via mobile apps.[1][2] Pivotal moments included hiring key early talent like VP Engineering Ciprian Rarau as the first employee in 2012, who built the full software stack (firmware, apps, APIs, web portals); a 2014 Ralph Lauren partnership embedding sensors in polo shirts for U.S. Open ball boys and retail; and launches like the OMbra smart sports bra in 2016 and OMrun app, fueling a $10M raise before acquisition by Honeywell and later shutdown.[1][2][4]
OMsignal rode the early 2010s wearable tech boom, pioneering smart clothing amid rising demand for passive health monitoring as fitness apps and smartphones proliferated, predating mainstream hits like Apple Watch.[1][2] Timing was ideal post-2010 sensor miniaturization and Bluetooth advances, but market forces like fierce competition from device-focused players (Fitbit), high manufacturing costs for textile sensors, and consumer preference for cheaper wristwear contributed to its challenges.[2][5] It influenced the ecosystem by validating biosensing apparel—paving the way for successors like Hexoskin, Sensoria, and formersense—while its Honeywell-acquired patents may enable industrial safety applications, shifting wearables from consumer fitness to enterprise health tech.[2][5]
OMsignal's story underscores the high risks of hardware-heavy wearables: early innovation yielded breakthroughs and exits, but scaling textile tech proved unsustainable amid commoditized competition.[2][5] Though defunct since 2019, its IP lives on via Honeywell, potentially fueling B2B monitoring in safety or healthcare, while the smart clothing market surges with AI-driven personalization and post-pandemic wellness focus. Trends like biomechanical analytics and machine-washable sensors will shape descendants, evolving OMsignal's vision from fitness shirts to ubiquitous health fabric—proving its foundational role even in failure.[3][5] This early pioneer reminds investors that timing and execution trump first-mover status in wearables.
OMsignal has raised $21.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series B in September 2016.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2016 | $10.0M Series B | Relay Ventures | Bessemer Venture Partners, Chicago Ventures, DFJ, Freestyle Capital, Harrison Metal, MATH Venture Partners, OMERS Ventures, Quiet Capital, Summit Partners, Techstars, Mark Britto, Investissement Québec, MAS Holdings, Mistral Venture Partners, Primera Capital, Real Ventures |
| Jun 1, 2014 | $10.0M Series A | Bessemer Venture Partners | Chicago Ventures, DFJ, Freestyle Capital, Golden Ventures, Harrison Metal, MATH Venture Partners, OMERS Ventures, Quiet Capital, Summit Partners, Techstars, Mark Britto, David Cohen, Flextronics, Mistral Venture Partners, Ori Sasson, Real Ventures |
| Feb 1, 2013 | $1.0M Seed | Chicago Ventures, Golden Ventures, MATH Venture Partners, OMERS Ventures, Quiet Capital, Techstars, Mark Britto, David Cohen, Real Ventures |