DistantNews
Support us
Nigerian-American Engineer Develops World's First Braid-Assist Robot, Secures $7 Million Funding
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Technology

Nigerian-American Engineer Develops World's First Braid-Assist Robot, Secures $7 Million Funding

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth From a news agency New plan
  • Yinka Ogunbiyi, a Nigerian-American biomechanical engineer, has developed HaloBraid, a robot designed to assist hairstylists with braiding.
  • The robot aims to reduce braiding time and physical strain for professionals.
  • Ogunbiyi secured $7 million in seed funding, led by Seven Seven Six, to commercialize the patented technology.

Yinka Ogunbiyi, a Nigerian-American biomechanical engineer and Harvard graduate, is set to revolutionize the hairstyling industry with HaloBraid, the world's first braid-assist robot. The patented technology is designed to significantly cut down the time it takes for professional hairstylists to complete braids and reduce the physical strain associated with the intricate work.

Ogunbiyi's innovation has garnered substantial backing, securing $7 million in seed funding. The funding round was spearheaded by Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. This investment signals strong confidence in Ogunbiyi's vision and the commercial viability of HaloBraid.

The development of HaloBraid addresses a long-standing challenge in the hairstyling community. Braiding is a popular protective hairstyle, but it is often time-consuming and can lead to repetitive stress injuries for stylists. Ogunbiyi's robot offers a technological solution to enhance efficiency and improve the working conditions for these skilled professionals.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog