Harvard-trained engineer and entrepreneur Yinka Ogunbiyi has secured $7 million in seed funding for HaloBraid, a beauty technology startup developing an AI-assisted braiding device designed to dramatically reduce the time required for textured hair braiding.
The funding round was led by Seven Seven Six (776), the venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, with participation from AlleyCorp and Bling Capital. The investment will support product development, engineering, and commercialization of HaloBraid’s flagship device, Halo.
“I couldn’t imagine a future where I take a self-driving car to a six-hour manual braiding appointment,” Ogunbiyi said. “Braiding takes billions of hours each year. Halo gives that time back.”
Unlike fully automated systems, Halo is designed to work alongside professional braiders. Stylists begin each braid by sectioning and starting it manually, while the device completes the braid with precision.
According to the company, the technology can make braiding up to five times faster while reducing pulling, discomfort, and the repetitive strain experienced by stylists.
Solving a Longstanding Challenge
HaloBraid is positioning itself as a collaborative robotics company rather than a replacement for human expertise. By automating the most repetitive part of the braiding process, the company hopes to increase stylist productivity, improve customer experience, and enable salons to serve more clients without sacrificing quality.
Ogunbiyi says the company’s broader mission extends beyond convenience.
“I’m honored to build Halo to reclaim time for people who look like me, and for the billions of people around the world with textured hair.”
The startup believes reducing braiding time could expand access to protective hairstyles while improving working conditions for professional braiders.
From Harvard Trained Engineer to Beauty-Tech Founder
Ogunbiyi brings an uncommon combination of engineering expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and cultural insight to the venture.
She earned both an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School and a Master of Science in Engineering from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences between 2021 and 2023.
During her MBA, she received first- and second-year honors and served on Harvard University’s Presidential Search Committee Student Advisory Board.
Entrepreneurial Track Record
Before launching HaloBraid in 2023, Ogunbiyi co-founded Desora, a smart kitchen appliance startup where she served as Chief Technology Officer after previously holding the Chief Operating Officer role. Between 2015 and 2020, she helped develop multiple smart grills and connected cooking devices.
Earlier in her career, Ogunbiyi worked as Head of Branding and Marketing for Nigerian lifestyle company Eve & Tribe, providing early exposure to consumer products and brand development.
Expansion Plans
With fresh capital from leading venture investors, HaloBraid plans to accelerate hardware engineering, refine its AI-assisted braiding technology, and prepare for commercial deployment.
The company is targeting one of the world’s largest underserved beauty markets, where protective hairstyles remain culturally significant but often require several hours to complete.
