A Queensland business is cleaning up and looking to expand overseas after using artificial intelligence to leverage capacity in the laundry sector.
Based on the Sunshine Coast, The Laundry Lady has raised $1 million in seed funding to launch in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Founder Susan Toft started the business in 2012, connecting customers with a network of home-based contractors through its proprietary TimeBoss platform.
Ms Toft said the company currently operated throughout Australia and New Zealand, with over 375 contractors providing washing, drying, folding and ironing services to thousands of residential and business clients.
She said the new investment marked a pivotal moment in The Laundry Lady’s growth.
“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.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the region was proving itself as a thriving base for innovative businesses with global ambitions.
“Congratulations to Susan and the entire team at The Laundry Lady. We’re so proud to see a local business take its next big step onto the world stage,” Mayor Natoli said.
“The Laundry Lady exemplifies a truly collaborative approach to innovation, having received extensive mentoring, support and connections from across our local network.”
Ms Toft said the oversubscribed round was led by Karl Jacoby and supported by Brisbane Angels, AngelLoop, AI entrepreneur Dr Catriona Wallace, and other South East Queensland-based angel investors.
She said the funding round included support from the Federal and State government, including Queensland Government’s Female Founders Co-Investment Fund and Austrade’s Export Market Development Grant, bringing the total to $1million.
Ms Toft said the business planned to use the new capital to enhance its platform with mobile apps, AI tools, and advanced segmentation capabilities.
She said the company’s approach differed significantly from traditional franchise models, with its low-barrier entry helping it rapidly scale its contractor network, while maintaining 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,” Ms Toft said.
