HaloBraid raises $7M to build the first robotic braiding assistant for hair salons

HaloBraid has raised $7M in seed funding, led by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian's firm Seven Seven Six, to develop a robotic braiding assistant for hair salons. The device works alongside stylists, automating the most labor-intensive portion of each braid five times faster than human hands. With braiding sessions lasting up to 12 hours and limiting stylists to one or two clients daily, the technology could significantly boost salon productivity while reducing health problems like carpal tunnel syndrome among professional braiders.