Nigerian-American graduate Yinka Ogunbiyi develops world’s first braid-assist robot

● Harvard Grad And Co-Founder David Afolabi Raise $7M As 7,000+ Salons Join Waiting List Ahead Of Commercial Launch

Nigerian-American engineer and Harvard graduate Yinka Ogunbiyi has unveiled HaloBraid, the world’s first braid-assist robot designed to help hairstylists cut braiding time while reducing the physical toll of the job.

The innovation has already raised $7 million in seed funding and drawn more than 7,000 professional salons to its waiting list ahead of commercial rollout.

The United States Mission in Nigeria announced the milestone on X on Friday, saying: “Nigerian-American engineer & Harvard grad Yinka Ogunbiyi built HaloBraid, the world’s first braid-assist robot, easing strain on stylists & saving salons time. $7M raised, 7,000+ salons waitlisted.”

—-Backed By Top VCs—

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

Ogunbiyi holds a joint Master of Science and MBA from Harvard Engineering School and Harvard Business School. Before launching HaloBraid, she worked on connected home appliances and consumer electronics.

—Born From A 4-Day Braiding Session—

The idea was born during the COVID-19 pandemic after Ogunbiyi spent four days installing her own knotless braids.

“I realised how repetitive and physically draining the process was,” she said. She later partnered with co-founder *David Afolabi* to build a machine that could assist, not replace, professional braiders.

–‘How HaloBraid Works–‘

HaloBraid is designed to work alongside stylists:

1. Stylist parts and sections the hair, and creates the initial anchor knot by hand.
2. The robot takes over the repetitive braiding stage.
3. Stylist returns to trim, seal and style the ends for the final finish.

Ogunbiyi said the goal is to support professionals, not remove them.

“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,” she explained.

—-Tackling Braider Fatigue—

The company said the robot is intended to reduce the hand, wrist and back strain that forces many braiders to limit clients or retire early. By cutting time per client, stylists can serve more people and extend their careers.

Market research cited by HaloBraid shows nearly 95 percent of Black women surveyed said they would choose protective styles more often if salon appointments took less time.

—What’s Next—

With $7M secured and a waitlist of over 7,000 salons across the US and internationally, HaloBraid is preparing for its commercial launch in the coming months.

Industry observers say the robot could reshape the protective styling market by improving efficiency, reducing injury rates among stylists, and making braids more accessible to clients.

For Ogunbiyi, the mission is personal: “We’re building tools that respect the artistry of braiding while protecting the people who make it possible.”