What began as a search for better products for her own natural hair has turned into a full-blown startup with a mission. “You can always turn a passion into a business,” Alycea says—a message she recently shared with high school students during a speaking engagement.
Creating What Was Missing
HairMatch was born from Alycea’s lived experience—navigating the aisles of hair care without knowing which product would actually work for her texture. That frustration sparked an idea: what if there were a smarter way to match products to curls, coils, and waves?
She teamed up with a fellow student to bring it to life. Together, they built HairMatch—an app that now sits at the intersection of tech, beauty, and identity. It didn’t take long for others to take notice. This year, Alycea and her co-founder were selected as one of three global finalists for the 2025 Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship—a prestigious pitch competition for student entrepreneurs—where they placed second and received $25,000 USD to continue their venture.
In the Room, Telling Her Story
Alycea’s journey hasn’t gone unnoticed. She was recently featured by her alma mater, the University of North Carolina, for her leadership and innovation. Her presence on social media continues to inspire a generation of young women navigating university, career pivots, and entrepreneurship. “I remember getting 20 college acceptances and not knowing where to go,” she reflected in a recent Instagram post. “My advice? Expect to pivot. Stay open. You’ve got this.”
From figuring out dorm life to building a business that’s now on the radar of Microsoft, Alycea is proof that the path forward isn’t always straight—but it can still be powerful.
Why We’re Inspired
At Dulcedo, we’re proud to represent creators like Alycea—visionaries who are redefining what influence looks like. Her work reminds us that authenticity, lived experience, and community are not just buzzwords—they’re business models. And they matter.
