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yinka

@yinkabel

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slim thick scientist
building @halo.braid
cheffin’ @foodfireandsoul

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Ok now ladies 😏

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In great company, talking about the future of Afro hair.

#Repost @theblackbeautyclub
・・・
Black Hair’s Innovation Era | Robotics, diagnostics, fiber science and new formulations are changing how we understand, care for and style Black hair. Who’s building these advances, and who will own the technology behind them? 
This Friday at The Black Beauty Global Forum, Vernon François, Yinka Ogunbiyi of Halo Braid, Tendai Moyo of Ruka Hair and Candace V. Mitchell of MYAVANA join moderator Utibe Mbagwu for a conversation on invention, ownership and the future of Black hair.

October 16 | 10:30–11:15 AM ET | 2:30–3:15 PM GMT Live from Brooklyn, with digital access worldwide.
 Comment ACCESS for the digital ticket link.

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and what about it

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One month ago, we launched The First 200, the first-ever index documenting the first 200 Black women founders in the U.S. to raise $1 million or more in venture capital.

Since then, thousands of people have explored the Index, listened to the podcast, and joined us in celebrating the Black women who are changing the face of venture-backed entrepreneurship.

Today, we’re excited to welcome 8 new founders to the Index. 🎉

The First 200 is intended to be a living resource. As founders raise additional capital, new information becomes available, and we continue verifying data, we’ll keep refining and strengthening the Index to ensure it remains the most accurate and comprehensive as possible.

A huge thank you to everyone who has shared updates and helped us make this project even stronger. This has truly been a community effort.

Visit our website to explore the updated Index and discover all 200 Black women founders. Link in bio.

#TheFirst200 #WomenFounders #blackwomenentrepreneurs #VentureCapital #startupecosystem

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Hair braiding has long been more than a hairstyle. It is heritage, identity, artistry, and an important source of livelihood across communities worldwide.

Yet for many, the experience can be demanding. Clients often spend long hours in the salon, while stylists work through repetitive strain on their hands day after day.

That reality inspired Yinka Ogunbiyi @yinkabel and David Afolabi to build Halo Braid @halo.braid, a patent-pending robot designed to assist stylists by completing braids they begin and significantly reducing styling time.

Their solution earned the top prize at the Harvard Innovation Labs President’s Innovation Challenge, standing out for addressing a real everyday challenge with technology rooted in culture.

African founders continue to build solutions the world cannot ignore.
Would you try tech-assisted braiding?

Follow @bell_africana for more.

Credits: @harvardinnovationlabs

#bellafricana #africancreatives #africanfounders #halobraid

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Model: R.J. Harper and friends for the extraordinarily talented designer/stylist: Tammye Mims @tbtpersonalstylist during NY Fashion Week SS/26 as part of the Unieke Mode Showcase and runway show in collaboration with jewelry designers and more; have u been to the Unieke Mode shows during fashion week? Check them out and their very exciting swimwear presentations too @uniekemodeswimweek #nigeria #ghana #orangenewjersey #vogue #traditional_look #nyfw #rjharper #roblizzy #lovestory #motivation #brazil #nigeria #cameroon #kenya #hashtag #sex #sexymen #malemodel #italy #fashiontiktok #france #sardenia #monaco #shaolin #rasta #guatemala #onepiece #poppin @rjharper #kingdomofkush

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#BaddieNews: Two Black Harvard alumni just changed the beauty tech game. Yinka Ogunbiyi and David Afolabi, founders of Halo Braid, created a robotic system that can braid hair in minutes. And, they just won Harvard’s top startup prize for it.

Their invention merges robotics, AI, and cultural craftsmanship to honor one of the oldest art forms in the Black community while empowering stylists and clients alike.

Baddies, imagine getting your extra small knotless braids done in minutes. 👀

Swipe to read more & let us know your thoughts in the comments 👇🏽

#HaloBraid #BlackExcellence #BeautyTech #TechAndCulture #WomenInSTEM #InnovationLooksLikeUs #ProtectiveStyles #FutureOfBeauty #HarvardInnovation

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Meet Yinka Ogunbiyi — a lifelong braids wearer who turned frustration into invention.
Her startup @halo.braid, co-founded at @harvardinnovationlabs, just won the 2025 President’s Innovation Challenge, outshining HUNDREDS of entries from across Harvard’s 13 schools.

Dubbed the “Halo Braid,” this patent-pending robot helps stylists finish the braids they start — cutting time from hours to minutes while keeping quality and artistry intact.
As @yinkabel put it:

“Stylists start the braid. Halo finishes it.”

💡 Why it matters:
• It’s a Black-founded innovation transforming a $625 million global market.
• It protects the hands that built this culture — turning pain into precision, and labor into legacy.
• It gives stylists freedom to focus on creativity instead of strain.

Less stress. More style. More possibility.

We gotta ask the culture — how do you feel about this? 🗳️👇🏾VOTE BELOW👇🏾🗳️

The HaloBraid waitlist is now open for both professionals and novice braiders who want to elevate their craft or support Yinka’s vision. Visit halobraid.com to learn more or join early. ✨

✍🏾 @BlackFutureClub | #BlackGeekSquad
📸 @harvardinnovationlabs

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Innovation meets empowerment.
HaloBraid is reimagining what’s possible for hairstylists and clients everywhere, turning hours of work into minutes and opening new doors for women in business.

Congratulations to @halo.braid, winner of the 2025 President’s Innovation Challenge. A reminder that true innovation isn’t only about technology, it’s about transforming lives.

#HerStoryGlobal #Innovation #Leadership #HaloBraid #WomenInBusiness #SBBMedia

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the summer I turned London

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past few… part 2 !

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i know you’re not one for birthdays so i’ll keep it short. merry born day & congrats on the show @hamzatincorporated 🥳🥳

thank you to everyone for coming. shows up till oct 19th if you haven’t seen it yet!

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