Yinka Ogunbiyi

Yinka Ogunbiyi is a Nigerian-American biomedical engineer and entrepreneur making waves in the beauty technology industry. She is the founder and CEO of Halo, a startup developing HaloBraid, an innovative robotic device designed to help professional hairstylists braid textured hair more efficiently. With an impressive educational background from Harvard University and a passion for solving everyday problems through technology, Ogunbiyi is emerging as an entrepreneur to watch.

Early Life and Education

Ogunbiyi has Nigerian roots and grew up in London. Her interest in engineering, business and creative problem-solving eventually led her to Harvard University in the United States.

She earned an undergraduate engineering degree from Harvard before returning to the university for further studies. Between 2021 and 2023, she completed a Master of Science in Engineering and a Master of Business Administration through Harvard’s engineering school and business school.

Her combination of technical knowledge and business training helped prepare her to develop products and lead technology companies.

Career and Entrepreneurial Journey

Before launching Halo, Ogunbiyi gained entrepreneurial experience at Desora, a smart kitchen appliance startup. She helped develop connected cooking products, including smart grills and barbecue smokers. Working on consumer hardware gave her practical experience in product design, engineering and bringing new technology to market.

Her next venture emerged from a personal experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. After spending several days braiding her own hair, she began thinking about how technology could make the process less time-consuming.

That idea eventually became HaloBraid, a device designed to automate repetitive parts of the braiding process while allowing professional stylists to retain control of their craft. The goal is to reduce the time required for appointments and ease the physical demands of long braiding sessions.

Ogunbiyi co-developed the technology with fellow Harvard alumnus David Afolabi. Their approach combines robotics and engineering with an understanding of the needs of people with textured hair.

In 2026, Halo secured $7 million in seed funding from investors, including Seven Seven Six, the venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The investment is intended to support product development, manufacturing preparation and commercial expansion.

Yinka Ogunbiyi’s Earnings and Net Worth

Yinka Ogunbiyi’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. Although Halo raised $7 million, this is company investment funding, not her personal income or wealth.

Personal Life and Future Plans

Outside entrepreneurship, Ogunbiyi enjoys hosting dinner parties, listening to jazz and exploring food culture. She has also worked as a chef and recipe developer, reflecting her broad creative interests.