In the realm of personal care and health tech, one product stands out for its ingenuity: a tool that allows users to combat one of the most concerning appearance-related issues, balding. For entrepreneurs and innovators in the startup space, this product offers a fascinating case study of AI-powered personalization and market penetration. Built by Cyriac Lefort and Tilen Babnik, MyHair AI is a blend of cutting-edge technology and direct-to-consumer strategy, catering to the emotional and practical needs of its users.
As someone who has been in the startup ecosystem for over two decades, I, Violetta Bonenkamp, am always fascinated by products that harness technology to solve real-world problems. But it’s not just the execution of tech that intrigues me, it’s the broader lessons these startups offer to founders and business owners about understanding market psychology, building an efficient team, and addressing misinformation in high-value markets.
The Mechanics Behind MyHair AI
At its core, MyHair AI employs machine learning to analyze scalp images for early signs of hair loss. Users upload photos via the app, and the algorithm evaluates key metrics like hair density and scalp health, providing visual insights over time. What impresses me most as a startup founder is the speed and precision with which the app was developed. Lefort and Babnik vibe-coded the prototype in just a few weeks, a feat that demonstrates tremendous efficiency rooted in technical expertise. For context, vibe coding refers to rapid development where the product’s skeleton is built in bursts of intense focus, often without full deployment resources.
However, the technology alone isn’t why this startup has gained traction. Lefort and Babnik spent months working with clinics and dermatologists to validate the AI model’s accuracy, an essential move to generate trust among users.
How Founders Can Learn From MyHair AI
Lesson #1: Emotional Triggers Drive Consumer Behavior
Hair loss is deeply emotional, especially for men, who often view it as an irreversible sign of aging. Lefort’s inspiration, being told by a hairdresser that he was balding, was relatable and sparked immediate action. For founders, this case underscores the importance of identifying emotional pain points in your market. Products that address insecurities or aspirations generate faster and stronger engagement, a principle that applies across industries, from fashion to wellness tech.
Lesson #2: Build Trust Through Transparency
The hair care industry is notorious for misinformation and over-promises on products that don’t deliver. MyHair AI diffuses skepticism by combining visual evidence with verified clinic reviews and protocols backed by research. As founders, building such trust in a competitive market should be a priority. Showcase data-driven evidence, partner with experts, and embrace certifications or third-party validation wherever possible.
Lesson #3: Personalization Is the New Standard
Personalization isn’t a luxury anymore, it’s expected. MyHair AI provides tailored recommendations based on user profiles and photo history, a trend we’re seeing across all verticals. Founders designing consumer-facing tech should explore how to capture user data (ethically) to offer a deeper level of tailored experiences.
Scaling Strategy: Insights From the Founders
MyHair AI exemplifies the benefits of a lean launch model. Lefort and Babnik:
- Built the product prototype in record time using vibe coding tools, instead of wasting time on chasing venture capital.
- Rolled it out ahead of securing full institutional support, collecting data to validate market demand.
- Partnered with stakeholders once they had credibility metrics from 300,000 scalp images uploaded and evaluated.
Entrepreneurs can model this strategy for their own startups:
- Build basic functionality quickly rather than waiting for perfection.
- Use early adopters to gather feedback and refine the offering.
- Gradually validate the product with industry endorsements.
How Founders Can Launch Their Own AI Product
Step-by-Step Guide
- Identify the Pain Point: Start by asking “What urgent problem are we solving?” This is the foundation for all product and market strategies.
- Build a Lean Prototype: Use rapid development techniques, like vibe coding or low-code platforms, to launch quickly and assess demand.
- Gather Data: Use your MVP (minimum viable product) to collect data that demonstrates the need for your product.
- Validate With Experts: Partner with researchers, consultants, or reputable institutions to prove your product’s efficacy.
- Launch Strategically: Focus your early efforts on digital outreach to gather feedback, build community, and revise for scale before seeking heavy funding.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping Validation: Many tech products fail because founders launch without proper scientific backing or stakeholder endorsements.
- Ignoring Emotional Connection: Users need to feel emotionally compelled to buy your product. Avoid overly logical messaging, focus on relatable narratives.
- Overcomplicating Prototypes: Founders often waste time trying to launch a perfect product. My advice? Start lean, test, then iterate.
- Neglecting Partnerships: Whether clinical, financial, or technological, partnerships create credibility and momentum.
Statistics to Inspire
- 200,000 Users: MyHair AI’s current reach demonstrates strong demand in the hair loss prevention space.
- 85%: Percentage increase in a startup’s user engagement when personalized features are included.
- $50 Billion: The estimated value of the global hair care market, underscoring the potential scale for solutions that prioritize transparency and scientific backing.
How This Product Fits Into Broader Trends
As an advocate for AI integration in consumer solutions, I see MyHair AI as part of the broader trend of healthcare democratization. Emotional commerce paired with technology-led transparency aligns with consumer demands for authenticity in the products they trust most. Entrepreneurs tapping into niche verticals should embrace a “problem-first” approach rather than obsessing over technical capabilities alone. Lefort’s journey reminds me that the best ideas emerge from truly empathizing with your target audience.
Closing Takeaways
For founders and startup-minded professionals, MyHair AI is more than a product, it’s a masterclass in creating a business with impact. It teaches us the importance of rapid iteration, validating through partnerships, and solving a deeply emotional pain point to foster user loyalty. In an era where competition is fierce and attention spans are fleeting, this AI-powered app proves that focusing on the basics, trust, personalization, and authenticity, offers a winning strategy.
For further inspiration, explore the startup journey on TechCrunch’s article on MyHair AI, or dive deep into the product playbook on the company’s official website.
FAQ
1. How does MyHair AI work?
MyHair AI analyzes scalp images uploaded by users to detect early signs of hair loss, tracking hair density and scalp health over time. Learn more about MyHair AI
2. Who created MyHair AI?
The app was developed by Cyriac Lefort and Tilen Babnik, experienced entrepreneurs in the tech startup space. Discover their journey
3. What is vibe coding, and how was it used in MyHair AI?
Vibe coding refers to a rapid and highly focused development process. Lefort and Babnik used this approach to build MyHair AI’s prototype within weeks. Explore vibe coding in action
4. How does MyHair AI ensure accuracy in its results?
The founders collaborated with clinics and dermatologists to validate their AI model, focusing on scientific reliability. Learn about their validation process
5. What inspired the creation of MyHair AI?
Cyriac Lefort was motivated by a personal experience where a hairdresser informed him about balding, prompting an exploration into the emotional and unreliable advice surrounding hair loss. Read more about the inspiration
6. Does MyHair AI provide personalized recommendations?
Yes, the app offers tailored suggestions based on user profiles and photo history, meeting the modern demand for personalization. Discover its customization features
7. What has been the user response to MyHair AI?
With over 200,000 users, the app demonstrates high demand for hair loss solutions backed by transparency and scientific insight. Check out user metrics
8. Can MyHair AI collaborate with clinics?
Yes, clinics can partner with MyHair AI to efficiently evaluate patients using its AI technology. Learn about clinic partnerships
9. What are the broader applications of AI in healthcare, as seen in MyHair AI?
MyHair AI is part of the trend where AI-powered personalization improves transparency, democratization, and emotional commerce related to health and wellness. Explore AI in healthcare trends
10. What lessons can entrepreneurs learn from MyHair AI?
The key takeaways include addressing emotional pain points, validating products with experts, and rapidly iterating to refine offerings. Discover entrepreneurial insights
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp’s expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic “without any funding and without any code,” this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call “gamepreneurship”. By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique “play to learn and earn” model.