One Nigerian-American engineer wey graduate from Harvard University, Yinka Ogunbiyi, don develop di world first braid-assist robot wey dem call HaloBraid. Dis robot na to help hairstylists reduce di stress wey dey on dia body and make di work faster for salon.
According to di information wey we get, HaloBraid fit assist during braiding process, so stylist go save time and no go tire too much. Di invention don attract serious investor interest, as e raise $7 million in funding. More dan 7,000 salons don join waiting list to adopt dis technology.
Di US Mission for Nigeria commend Ogunbiyi on Friday, saying di innovation dey show American innovation with global impact. Dem write for X say, “Nigerian-American engineer and Harvard grad Yinka Ogunbiyi built HaloBraid, di world first braid-assist robot, easing strain on stylists and saving salons time. $7M raised, 7,000+ salons waitlisted. American innovation, global impact.”
According to reports, HaloBraid secure funding through seed round wey Seven Seven Six lead. Seven Seven Six na venture capital firm wey Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian found. Oda investors include AlleyCorp and Bling Capital. Di money go help roll out di product for market.
Ogunbiyi hold joint Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Engineering School and Harvard Business School. Before she develop HaloBraid, she dey design smart home appliances. Di idea for HaloBraid come during COVID-19 pandemic, when Ogunbiyi spend four days installing her own protective knotless braids. Dat experience make she partner wit co-founder David Afolabi to create automated solution for one of di most repetitive parts of hairstyling.
HaloBraid no dey replace professional hairstylists, but dey assist dem. Di stylist go first part di scalp, section di hair, and create di initial anchor knot by hand. Den di machine go do di repetitive braiding. After dat, di stylist go finish di hairstyle by trimming and securing di ends according to customer preference.
