Meet Yinka Ogunbiyi, the Nigerian-American behind the world’s first braid-assist robot

Nigerian-American biomechanical engineer and Harvard graduate Yinka Ogunbiyi has secured $7 million in seed funding to commercialise HaloBraid, a patented braid-assist robot designed to help professional hairstylists cut braiding time and reduce physical strain.

The funding round was led by venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, with participation from AlleyCorp and Bling Capital.

The startup is entering the market with more than 7,000 professional salons already on its waiting list, reflecting strong demand for the technology before its commercial rollout.

Ogunbiyi, who holds a joint MS/MBA from Harvard Engineering School and Harvard Business School, previously worked on smart kitchen appliances and Internet of Things (IoT) devices before turning her attention to the haircare industry.

The idea for HaloBraid was born during the COVID-19 pandemic after Ogunbiyi spent four days installing her own knotless braids at home. She later partnered with co-founder David Afolabi to develop a robotic solution for professional braiders.

Rather than replacing hairstylists, HaloBraid is designed to work alongside them as a collaborative robot, or “cobot.” The machine performs the repetitive mid-length braiding movements that account for most of the time spent during knotless braid appointments, while stylists remain responsible for the creative and technical aspects of the service.

Under the process, the stylist first parts and sections the client’s hair before creating the foundation of the braid. HaloBraid then takes over the repetitive weaving motion, reducing appointment times by about half. The stylist completes the service by sealing, trimming and styling the finished braids.

Speaking about the technology, Ogunbiyi said it is intended to support, rather than replace, professional braiders.

“I don’t think anything will get lost from the experience. If anything, it enriches it. Technology simply assists with the repetitive movements that consume the most time and place the greatest strain on the body.”

Beyond reducing appointment times, HaloBraid also aims to address occupational health challenges faced by professional braiders, many of whom experience conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and chronic back pain after years of repetitive work.

By automating the most physically demanding part of the braiding process, the company hopes to help hairstylists extend their careers while increasing the number of clients they can serve each day.

The company also cited consumer demand for faster appointments, noting that 95% of Black women surveyed said they would wear protective hairstyles more often if salon visits took less time. The latest funding is expected to support HaloBraid’s commercial expansion as it prepares to introduce the technology to salons worldwide.

Vanguard News

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