When Ireoluwa Otegbade evaluates a problem, she looks at it through two distinct lenses: the precision of a biomedical engineer and the lived experience of an entrepreneur.
As a fourth-year student in Drexel University’s B.S./M.S. Biomedical Engineering program, Ireoluwa is used to breaking down complex systems. But when she looked at the textured hair care market, she saw a challenge that hit much closer to home.
“Textured hair takes nine times more money and four times more time to care for than straight hair,” she explains. “We set out to condense that routine by bringing four products into one – reducing the complexity, the cost and the time required for healthy hair care.”
That customer-first approach recently took center stage on a national level. Joined by team member Izzy Passero, chief technical officer, who oversees the venture’s production process, and supported by Close School associate teaching professor and faculty advisor Scott Quitel, Ireoluwa’s venture, TOZ Hair Care, advanced to the Top 25 Finalists at e-Fest® 2026. Competing in Minneapolis at the University of St. Thomas against top student founders from across North America, TOZ Hair Care took home First Place in the Brand Builder Award, earning $5,000 in equity-free capital.
When Entrepreneurship Meets Lived Experience
Like many great ideas, TOZ Hair Care didn’t begin in a corporate boardroom – it began in a regular living room as a family solution.
When Ireoluwa’s young cousin was born with a bald patch, the family struggled to find clean, effective and safe products that actually worked. Determined to find an answer, Ireoluwa and her co-founder (her aunt) began formulating their own moisture-retention solutions at home.
What started as a family remedy quickly revealed a massive, underserved market. Consumers with textured hair were overwhelmed by multi-step routines filled with harsh ingredients. Ireoluwa realized that by combining her engineering background with natural formulations, she could simplify textured hair care.
Today, TOZ Hair Care is building a practical alternative to routine overload, delivering simple, natural formulas designed for multi-generational use.
Mentorship in Action At The Close School
Turning a home formulation into a real-world venture requires more than just a good product – it demands clear execution, financial modeling and pitch preparation. That’s where Close School associate teaching professor Scott Quitel stepped in as faculty advisor.
At the Close School, mentorship isn’t about sitting through passive lectures; it’s a dynamic, hands-on partnership. Professor Quitel worked alongside Ireoluwa to help sharpen her business model, refine her launch plans and navigate the high-stakes world of pitch competitions.
“Ireoluwa is a model student-entrepreneur,” says Quitel. “She has conscientiously tapped into her family, friends and classmates to leanly start up her business while pursuing a rigorous dual degree. She brings immense passion, ethics and empathy to her work, and I predict we will see TOZ Hair Care on retail shelves across the country in the very near future.”
“Biomedical engineering taught me how systems work and how to build them,” Ireoluwa reflects. “Being involved with entrepreneurship and faculty mentors has taught me impact – how to turn those technical systems and ideas into a reality that is actually transferable to real people.”
Stepping onto the National Stage of e-Fest 2026
Marking its 10th anniversary, e-Fest® is widely recognized as one of the premier undergraduate startup competitions in North America, awarding a total of $250,000 in cash prizes. Out of hundreds of applicants, TOZ Hair Care earned a spot as a Top 25 Finalist.
Arriving in Minneapolis, Ireoluwa found herself surrounded by elite student ventures spanning biotech, consumer goods and AI.
“Being at e-Fest, watching all these teams compete who were at various stages in their journey, I felt proud to be one of them,” Ireoluwa shares. “When you stand in front of the judges, what keeps you going is the vision for your brand, having a genuinely good product and having faith in what you’re building.”
That clarity of vision resonated deeply with the national panel of judges. TOZ Hair Care’s brand identity, customer research and clear value proposition earned them First Place for the Brand Builder Award, securing $5,000 to directly fund their next phase of growth.
Beyond the prize money, the competition reinforced a core lesson for Ireoluwa: building a business is a team effort.
“Something I learned at e-Fest is that building a business takes more than just you,” she says. “It takes mentors, community and people willing to step in and help carry your vision forward.”
What’s Next for TOZ Hair Care
Armed with national recognition and new funding, TOZ Hair Care is entering an active testing phase. Over the coming months, the team is focused on lab testing, expanding customer trial groups and gathering direct user feedback to prepare for a full launch.
When asked what advice she has for fellow Drexel students sitting on a big idea, Ireoluwa doesn’t hesitate:
“The best time to start is actually now as a student. There are so many resources, mentors and pitch opportunities available to you that won’t be there after you graduate. Take advantage of it – just start.”
By combining the analytical rigor of engineering with the hands-on approach taught at the Close School, Ireoluwa Otegbade and TOZ Hair Care are proving that when science meets authentic purpose, real solutions follow.
Interested in exploring pitch competitions, incubator space at the Baiada Institute or faculty mentorship at the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship? Visit our programs to learn how to get involved!
