Yinka Ogunbiyi Launches HaloBraid Hair-Braiding Robot

Yinka Ogunbiyi, a Nigerian-American engineer and entrepreneur, has introduced HaloBraid, a robotic device designed to assist hairstylists by completing individual braids up to five times faster than traditional methods. The demonstration was shared on the HaloBraid Instagram account, showcasing the technology's capability to perform part of the hair-braiding process.

The device requires hairstylists to start each braid manually before it takes over the repetitive weaving process, allowing stylists to double their business without replacing their role. Ogunbiyi developed HaloBraid during the COVID-19 pandemic after experiencing the lengthy process of braiding her own hair.

She partnered with co-founder David Afolabi to bring the technology to fruition. In July, the startup raised $7 million in seed funding led by Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

The company has over 7,000 salons on its waiting list and plans a phased rollout of the technology to selected stylists and salons.