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Sunshine Coast-based on-demand laundry service platform The Laundry Lady has raised $1 million in seed funding as the company eyes international expansion into Canada and the UK.
The oversubscribed round was led by Karl Jacoby and supported by Brisbane Angels, AngelLoop and AI entrepreneur Dr Catriona Wallace.
The seed round also secured support from the Queensland Government’s Female Founders Co-Investment Fund and Austrade’s Export Market Development Grant.
Founded on the Gold Coast in 2012 by Susan Toft, The Laundry Lady connects customers with a network of home-based contractors through its proprietary TimeBoss platform.
The company, which is now based on the Sunshine Coast, operates throughout Australia and in multiple locations across New Zealand, with more than 375 contractors providing washing, drying, folding and ironing services to residential and business clients.
“This investment marks a pivotal moment in The Laundry Lady’s growth journey,” says Toft, The Laundry Lady CEO.
“Having built this business from the ground up over the past decade with no external capital, we’ve demonstrated both the demand for our service and the effectiveness of our business model.
“This funding will accelerate our technology development and support our expansion plans into Canada and the United Kingdom, where we see tremendous opportunity for our tech-enabled contractor model.”
The business plans to use the new capital to enhance TimeBoss with mobile apps, AI tools and advanced segmentation capabilities.
The funds will also support The Laundry Lady’s expansion into Canada and the United Kingdom, markets that the company has identified as primed to adopt its business model.
The Laundry Lady operates via an independent contractor model where contractors work from home, using their own equipment and setting their own hours. They offer pick-up and delivery laundry services to residential, business, NDIS and aged-care customers.
The company says a low-barrier entry to the platform has helped the business rapidly scale its contractor network and maintain quality service.
“We’ve built a business that not only provides an essential service to busy families and businesses but also creates flexible income opportunities predominantly for women,” says Toft.
“With this investment, we’re ready to take The Laundry Lady to the world stage, demonstrating that Australian female founders can build global businesses.”
Andrew Powell, the Queensland Minister for Science and Innovation, commended The Laundry Lady for transforming a traditional industry via its industry-first AI-driven platform.
“The Queensland Government’s support for The Laundry Lady shows how important our Female Founders Co-Investment Fund is to helping innovative businesses scale up their enterprises,” says Powell.
“It’s brilliant to see Queensland businesses like The Laundry Lady expand its footprint internationally, showcasing the strength of our local startups.”
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