This Ex-Google Engineer Is Building An Automated Hair-Braiding Tool To Reduce Time And Pain For Stylists
Former Google software engineer Chisom Okwor is building Braidiant, a US-based startup developing an automated handheld device to speed up hair braiding for professional stylists. Launched in 2024, the company targets a labor-intensive market where price, time, and physical strain limit supply.
Okwor previously worked on Google Maps for cars and paid for her undergraduate computer science degree by braiding hair. That experience shaped Braidiant’s focus on building tools that support stylists’ work rather than replace it.​
Automating Standardized Braiding Styles
Hair braiding in the US is often expensive and time-consuming, particularly for textured hair, Okwor told AFROTECH. Clients regularly pay $600 to $1,000 for styles that take hours to complete, while some at-home installations can take several days.
Okwor began developing Braidiant after testing existing tools that she said did not work reliably on coily and kinky hair textures. The current device supports braiding with extensions across multiple textures but does not handle cornrows or more intricate styles, keeping the product focused on standardized protective styles. Okwor said complex styles will remain human-led, while routine services present a clearer automation opportunity.
Reducing physical strain for stylists
Okwor said ongoing stress on hands and wrists can limit how many clients stylists can take and how long they can remain in the profession.
The company plans to sell first to professional stylists, framing the device as a way to reduce pain and expand earning potential. Okwor said the goal is to help stylists increase capacity, potentially double income, and reduce attrition, while also supporting economic mobility in African and diaspora communities.
Funding and Next Steps
Braidiant has raised at least $26,000 in disclosed funding, including $20,000 from Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize and $6,000 from the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Venture Lab. Okwor is pursuing a master’s degree in artificial intelligence at UT Austin and expects to graduate in December 2026.
The company is preparing for manufacturing and considering crowdfunding. Braidiant is currently collecting customer interest through a waitlist, with no production timeline announced.
Image credit`: Chisom Okwor
