Nigerian-American Engineer Secures $7m Funding for World’s First Braid-Assist Robot

Nigerian-American biomechanical engineer, Yinka Ogunbiyi, has secured $7 million in seed funding to commercialise HaloBraid, a robotic system designed to assist professional hairstylists with braiding hair more efficiently.

The development was disclosed by the United States Mission in Nigeria in a post on X, noting that the innovation has already generated significant industry interest, with more than 7,000 salons joining the product’s waiting list.

The seed funding round was led by Seven Seven Six, the venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, alongside participation from AlleyCorp.

Ogunbiyi, a Harvard University graduate, developed HaloBraid in collaboration with David Afolabi. The concept emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic after she spent four days installing her own protective knotless braids, an experience that inspired her to apply engineering and robotics to one of the most time-consuming aspects of hair care.

According to the inventors, HaloBraid is not intended to replace hairstylists but to function as a collaborative robot, commonly known as a “cobot,” designed to complement the work of professionals.

The robotic system performs repetitive weaving movements involved in braiding, enabling stylists to complete hairstyles in nearly half the usual time while significantly reducing the physical strain associated with long hours of manual braiding.

“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,” Ogunbiyi said.

She explained that the braiding process still begins with a professional stylist, who manually parts the client’s hair, creates the necessary sections and forms the foundation knot before the robot takes over the repetitive weaving stage.

The creators believe the innovation will improve productivity for salons while allowing stylists to focus on creativity, customer interaction and finishing touches.

With thousands of salons already expressing interest, HaloBraid is expected to transform the haircare industry by combining advanced robotics with traditional hairstyling techniques.

The successful funding round also highlights the growing influence of African innovators in global technology and reinforces Ogunbiyi’s contribution to applying engineering solutions to everyday challenges within the beauty industry.