Metro
Philanthropist Donates 20 Boreholes to Ijebu-Ode Communities
Philanthropist Donates 20 Boreholes to Ijebu-Ode Communities A prominent businessman and philanthropist, Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo, and his wife, Olori Abayomi Onabanjo, have donated...
Former SUG President Found Dead While Serving as Corps Member
Former SUG President Found Dead While Serving as Corps Member A former President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic...
Ibrahim Mbaya: What to Know About the 25-Year-Old Model Whose Death Has Sparked Outrage
Ibrahim Mbaya: What to Know About the 25-Year-Old Model Whose Death Has Sparked Outrage The tragic death of Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya, a 25-year-old...
Sewuese Dies After Allegedly Being Trafficked to Cotonou for Prostitution
Sewuese Dies After Allegedly Being Trafficked to Cotonou for Prostitution A young Nigerian woman identified as Sewuese has died after she was allegedly...
Harvard-Trained Nigerian-American Engineer Raises $7m for Robot Designed to Assist Hair Braiders A Nigerian-American engineer and Harvard graduate, Yinka Ogunbiyi, has secured $7 million in seed funding to develop a robotic device designed to make hair braiding faster and less physically demanding for professional stylists. Ogunbiyi’s company, HaloBraid, is developing what it describes as the world’s first patented braid-assist robot. The device is designed to work with hairstylists by handling some of the repetitive movements involved in knotless braiding. The funding round was led by Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. AlleyCorp and Bling Capital were also among the investors. The technology has already attracted significant interest, with more than 7,000 salons reportedly waiting to use the system. HaloBraid is designed as a collaborative robot, meaning it works alongside a human stylist instead of attempting to replace one. The hairstylist remains responsible for sectioning the hair, creating the initial knot and completing the final styling. The robot then assists with the repetitive weaving process down the length of the braid before the stylist returns to finish and shape the ends. According to the company, the technology could cut the time spent on some knotless braid appointments by roughly half, allowing salons to serve more clients while reducing the physical pressure on stylists. For Ogunbiyi, the idea was born from personal experience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spent four days installing knotless braids on herself, an experience that made her consider how technology could assist with the most repetitive aspects of the process. She subsequently teamed up with co-founder David Afolabi to develop HaloBraid. The company’s technology is also aimed at addressing the physical demands of professional braiding. Stylists who spend years performing repetitive movements can experience problems affecting their wrists, hands, shoulders, back and joints. By assisting with the most repetitive stage of braiding, HaloBraid hopes to reduce the strain on beauty professionals and help them work more efficiently. Ogunbiyi said the technology would not take away from the personal experience of visiting a salon. Rather, she believes it can allow stylists to spend less time on repetitive movements while continuing to handle the creative and personal aspects of hairstyling. Before launching HaloBraid, Ogunbiyi worked on smart kitchen appliances and Internet of Things products. She holds a joint master’s degree in engineering and business administration from Harvard University. With a $7 million investment and thousands of salons already expressing interest, HaloBraid is seeking to introduce robotics into one of the world’s largest and most labour-intensive beauty markets.
Harvard-Trained Nigerian-American Engineer Raises $7m for Robot Designed to Assist Hair Braiders A Nigerian-American engineer and Harvard graduate, Yinka Ogunbiyi, has secured $7...
5 Members of Same Family Found Dead Inside Abia Residence
5 Members of Same Family Found Dead Inside Abia Residence A family of five has been found dead inside their residence in Umuimo...
Midnight Storm Kills 20 on Cameroon-Nigeria Boat Trip, 18 Nigerians Dead
Midnight Storm Kills 20 on Cameroon-Nigeria Boat Trip, 18 Nigerians Dead At least 20 people, including 18 Nigerians, have died after a boat...
Lightning Kills 6 Children From One Family, Injures 4
Lightning Kills 6 Children From One Family, Injures 4 Six children from the same family have been killed and four others injured after...
LATEST POST
Africa’s Talking Drum: The Secret That Kept the Owl Awake at Night
By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu Africa’s Talking Drum: The Secret That Kept the Owl Awake at Night “Why are you still awake?” Owl opened...
Trump Declares ‘Economic D-Day’ Against Iran, Threatens Allies With Punishment
Trump Declares ‘Economic D-Day’ Against Iran, Threatens Allies With Punishment US President Donald Trump has announced a major escalation of economic pressure on...
Manchester United Set Sights on New Left-Back After £65m Baleba Move
Manchester United Set Sights on New Left-Back After £65m Baleba Move Manchester United appear to be putting the finishing touches on their £65...
Onaiyekan Hits Back at Presidency: Nobody Can Embarrass Me at 82
Onaiyekan Hits Back at Presidency: Nobody Can Embarrass Me at 82 Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has hit back at...
VIDEO: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome showcases new Tsion electric vehicle models
VIDEO: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome showcases new Tsion electric vehicle models Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, has unveiled a collection of electric...
Tinubu Moves to Delay Release of US Records on Drug Allegations
Tinubu Moves to Delay Release of US Records on Drug Allegations President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined the US Department of Justice in...
Bayern Munich Midfielder Opens Up On Neurological Disorder After Latest Collapse
Bayern Munich Midfielder Opens Up On Neurological Disorder After Latest Collapse Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala has broken his silence about his health...
Africa’s Talking Drum: Why The Elephant Walks Slowly
By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu Africa’s Talking Drum: Why The Elephant Walks Slowly Long before the animals learned to respect the wisdom of age,...
Meta Faces Landmark Trial Over Alleged Harm to Children on Facebook and Instagram
Meta Faces Landmark Trial Over Alleged Harm to Children on Facebook and Instagram Meta Platforms is facing one of its most significant legal...
Zambia President Wins Second Term, Promises Millions of Jobs
Zambia President Wins Second Term, Promises Millions of Jobs Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second five-year term after winning 60 per...
Tinubu Drug Records: US Court Sets August 21 Deadline for Release
Tinubu Drug Records: US Court Sets August 21 Deadline for Release A United States federal judge, Beryl Howell, has given US Attorney Jeanine...
