Australia’s leading on-demand laundry service platform, The Laundry Lady, has raised $1 million in seed funding as it eyes international expansion into Canada and the UK.
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.
The round included support from Federal and State Government including Queensland Government’s Female Founders Co-Investment Fund and Austrade’s Export Market Development Grant, bringing the total to $1 million.
Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell commended The Laundry Lady for transforming a traditional industry into a national leader in on-demand laundry services for households and businesses through their industry-first AI-driven platform TimeBoss.
“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,” Minister Powell said.
“It’s brilliant to see Queensland businesses like The Laundry Lady expand its footprint internationally, showcasing the strength of our local startups.”
Founded in 2012 by Susan Toft, The Laundry Lady has revolutionised the traditional laundry service industry by connecting customers with a network of home-based contractors through its proprietary TimeBoss platform.
The company operates throughout Australia and in multiple locations across New Zealand, with over 375 contractors providing washing, drying, folding, and ironing services to thousands of residential and business clients.
“This investment marks a pivotal moment in The Laundry Lady’s growth journey,” says Laundry Lady CEO and founder, Susan Toft.
“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,” Ms Toft says.
“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.”
Operating from its Sunshine Coast headquarters, The Laundry Lady represents a significant win for Queensland’s growing tech sector.
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.
“Through the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Strategy, Council is committed to fostering a vibrant and supportive ecosystem, especially for female entrepreneurs.”
The business plans to use the new capital to enhance its proprietary TimeBoss platform 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 the company has identified as prime for disruption with its innovative, low-overhead business model.
The company’s approach differs significantly from traditional franchise models. Its low-barrier entry has helped The Laundry Lady rapidly scale its contractor network while maintaining quality service.
The Female Founders Co-Investment Fund’s participation underscores the company’s alignment with growing support for women-led businesses in Australia’s startup ecosystem.
“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 Ms 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.”
