OpenNorth

What OpenNorth does

OpenNorth (also known as Nord Ouvert) is a Canadian not-for-profit organization founded in 2011 and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. It provides data expertise services to governments — primarily municipalities — and to civic-minded organizations, focused on building organizational capacity to manage data responsibly across its full lifecycle. Its core service portfolio comprises four consulting lines: Data Management Services (data maturity assessments, management plans, implementation support), Cybersecurity Services (risk assessment, security plans, implementation support), Privacy Compliance Services (aligned with Canadian federal and Quebec Law 25 requirements), and Data Hub Development Services (inter-organizational data sharing, governance frameworks, digital infrastructure for data collaboration).

Beyond consulting, OpenNorth distributes a self-serve knowledge layer through an online courses platform covering Indigenous Data Sovereignty, civic tech, open smart cities, and data governance, and publishes free, openly accessible practical guides. Recent guides address AI deployment in municipalities (co-developed with IVADO), generative AI risk for SMBs, mobility-sector data anonymization, personal data flow mapping, and Quebec Law 25 privacy compliance.

Revenue is generated through professional services engagements (Town of Bridgewater, City of Montreal via the Montreal en Commun program, and the Community Solutions Network), grant funding from programs such as the Canadian Privacy Commissioner's Contributions Program and SSHRC's "AI for the Rest of Us" project, and historically corporate sponsorship (Google). Pricing for consulting is not publicly disclosed; resources and guides are provided free of charge. The go-to-market combines direct consulting sales into government and civic organizations with content-driven demand generation through free guides, online courses, and active participation in international open-government networks (Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Open Government, Code for All, International Open Data Charter).

Name

OpenNorth

Legal name

Open North

Website

https://opennorth.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OpenNorth is a Montreal-based not-for-profit founded in 2011 that provides data governance, cybersecurity, privacy compliance, and data-sharing consulting to municipalities and civic organizations across Canada, alongside free practical guides and an online courses platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Technology and Data Governance Consulting

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Cybersecurity & Identity Consulting (BPAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Open data governance
• Civic technology consulting
• Data privacy compliance
• Municipal data services
• Smart city strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Services: Consulting services for data governance, cybersecurity, privacy compliance, and data hub development provided to governments and civic organizations
2. Grants and Funding: Funding from government programs such as the Canadian Privacy Commissioner's Contributions Program and SSHRC for research projects
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship support (previously from Google)

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Open North provides consulting services in data management, cybersecurity, privacy compliance, and data hub development to governments and civic-minded organizations. It also operates an online courses platform and publishes freely accessible practical guides on topics such as AI governance, data anonymization, and cybersecurity for small and medium-sized organizations.

Product overview

Open North is a not-for-profit organization that provides data expertise services rather than a unified software product. Their core service portfolio consists of four main consulting service lines: Data Management Services, Cybersecurity Services, Privacy Compliance Services, and Data Hub Development Services. These services support governments and civic-minded organizations in managing data throughout its lifecycle. Additionally, Open North operates an Online Courses Platform providing training on data governance, digital strategy, and civic technology topics. The company also publishes various practical guides and resources including the AI Serving Municipalities Guide (co-developed with IVADO), Cybersecurity for Small and Medium-Sized Organizations Guide, Mobility Data Anonymization Guide, and Generative AI in Your Organization Guide. The services and resources collectively focus on building organizational capacity for data governance, privacy compliance, cybersecurity, and digital transformation to advance the common good.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Data Management Services Consulting services to help governments and civic-minded organizations establish foundations for responsible, effective, and sustainable data practices. Includes data maturity assessment, data management plan development, and targeted implementation support.
• Cybersecurity Services Consulting services helping organizations identify and reduce cybersecurity risks while protecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data. Includes cybersecurity risk assessment, security plan development, and implementation support.
• Privacy Compliance Services Services helping governments and civic-minded organizations establish regulatory compliance to protect personal information holdings. Includes privacy compliance assessment, compliance plan development, and targeted implementation support.
• Data Hub Development Services Services helping governments and civic-minded organizations improve inter-organizational data sharing, build partnerships with stakeholders, and launch data collaboration programs. Creates governance frameworks and develops digital infrastructure for secure, effective data sharing.
• Online Courses Platform Online learning platform offering courses on data governance, digital strategy, open smart cities, and civic technology. Courses include 'Fundamentals of Indigenous Data Sovereignty', 'Resident Engagement in Open Smart Cities', 'Civic Tech for Open Smart Cities', and other data-related topics, with certificates issued upon completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free resources downloaded and used by organizations across Canada and internationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Open GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen North serves as a Civil Society Member in Canada's Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Open Government, contributing to open government initiatives at the national level
• City of MontrealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in charge of data governance project for Montreal in Common program, working on data governance workstream with civic-minded organizations
• Code for All Global NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of international network of civic technology organizations working on open government and civic engagement
• IVADOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed AI Guide for Municipalities with IVADO, translating AI complexity into practical recommendations for municipal digital transformation
• Rogers Cybersecure CatalystminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in cybersecurity initiatives supporting small and medium-sized organizations
• International Open Data ChartercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Implementation Working Group, advancing open data principles internationally
• TIESScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in producing resources on social utility trusts and data partnerships for organizations
• NumanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in Connected Health Advisory Committee addressing digital health governance
• Canadian Privacy Commissioner's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived funding through the Contributions Program to explore intersectional privacy risks in data sharing between police and municipalities

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sunlight Foundation: US nonprofit advocating for open government, transparency, and open data. Comparable nonprofit structure and focus on government transparency, open data standards, and civic engagement through digital tools.
• GovLab (NYU): Research and action lab at NYU focused on using data, technology, and governance innovation to improve public-sector decision-making. Directly comparable mission around data governance, civic technology, and government modernization.
• Code for America: US nonprofit that builds digital services and advocates for open data and civic technology with municipal and state governments. Closely comparable civic-tech nonprofit serving similar government clients with data, privacy, and digital-service expertise.
• Open Data Institute: UK-based nonprofit that convenes governments, businesses, and civic organizations around open data, data trusts, and responsible data use. Highly comparable mission, nonprofit structure, and consulting-driven engagement model serving public-sector clients.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Government & Public Services: Global consulting firm with a large public-sector practice covering data governance, cybersecurity, and digital transformation for governments. Competes for the same municipal consulting mandates with vastly greater scale.
• Granicus: Govtech vendor providing communications, records management, and data platforms to municipal and state governments. Overlaps with OpenNorth's data-governance and open-government positioning, but at much larger scale and via software products.
• Accela: US-based govtech software vendor providing SaaS for permitting, licensing, and civic data to municipalities. Competes for municipal data and digital-transformation budgets with a broader software portfolio rather than advisory services.
• 18F: US federal-government technology group that builds digital services and advises agencies on data, procurement, and open government. Broader scale and federal scope, but overlapping methodology around open data, civic technology, and government consulting.

Regional players

• Code for Canada: Canadian nonprofit (later renamed Civic Futures) that worked with governments on digital service design and civic technology. Same country and adjacent mission to OpenNorth's municipal data work.

Others

• IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals): Global nonprofit that provides privacy training, certifications, and resources to professionals. Comparable in offering privacy training/certification content, but serves a broad professional audience rather than municipal governments specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/opennorth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/open-north
• Facebookfacebook.com/OpenNorth.NordOuvert

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OpenNorth