Nigerian-American biomechanical engineer and Harvard graduate, Yinka Ogunbiyi, has secured $7 million in seed funding to commercialise HaloBraid, a patented robotic system designed to help professional hairstylists reduce braiding time and minimise the physical strain associated with the craft.
The funding round was led by venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, with additional investments from AlleyCorp and Bling Capital.
Ahead of its commercial launch, the startup has already attracted significant market interest, with more than 7,000 professional salons joining its waiting list.
Ogunbiyi, who earned a joint Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Engineering School and Harvard Business School, previously worked on smart kitchen appliances and Internet of Things technologies before venturing into the beauty industry.
The inspiration for HaloBraid came during the COVID-19 pandemic after she spent four days installing knotless braids on herself. The experience prompted her to partner with co-founder David Afolabi to develop a robotic solution capable of assisting professional braiders.
Unlike conventional automation systems, HaloBraid was designed as a collaborative robot, commonly known as a “cobot,” to work alongside hairstylists rather than replace them.
Under the process, stylists handle the hair sectioning and create the braid foundation before the robot takes over the repetitive mid-length weaving movements that consume most of the appointment time. The stylist then completes the hairstyle by sealing, trimming and finishing the braids.
According to Ogunbiyi, the technology is intended to improve the braiding experience for both stylists and clients without taking away the creativity and personal interaction that define the profession.
She explained that the robot simply handles repetitive movements that place the greatest physical strain on braiders.
Beyond shortening appointment times, HaloBraid is also expected to help reduce occupational health challenges commonly faced by professional braiders, including carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and chronic back pain caused by years of repetitive work.
By automating the most physically demanding stage of the braiding process, the company believes hairstylists will be able to serve more clients daily while extending their careers.
The startup also cited consumer research indicating that 95 per cent of Black women surveyed would wear protective hairstyles more frequently if salon appointments required less time.
The newly secured funding is expected to accelerate HaloBraid’s commercial rollout as the company prepares to introduce the technology to salons across global markets.
