HaloBraid, a beauty technology startup founded by Nigerian engineer and entrepreneur Yinka Ogunbiyi, has raised $7 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its innovative hair-braiding device designed for professional salons.

The funding will be used to advance product development, expand salon partnerships, conduct extensive stylist testing, and prepare the device for manufacturing ahead of HaloBraid’s planned launch later this year.

The patent-pending device is designed to help professional hairstylists complete braids more quickly while reducing the physical strain associated with long hours of manual braiding. Rather than replacing stylists, the technology is intended to work alongside them by speeding up the most repetitive part of the braiding process.

The investment marks a significant milestone for HaloBraid as it seeks to modernize one of the beauty industry’s most time-intensive services, offering salons a solution that could improve productivity and enhance the overall client experience.