Revolutionizing Laundry: Meet the Startups Making Chores a Breeze

Doing laundry can be a tedious chore, but innovative startups are stepping in to lighten the load. Investors are eager to back these new players in the laundry service market.

NoScrubs: A New Player in On-Demand Laundry

NoScrubs, an 11-month-old startup, recently raised $2 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Initialized Capital for its on-demand laundry delivery services. Founded by Matt O’Connor and Sudhanshu Gautam, NoScrubs aims to offer a faster and more affordable laundry service, promising to return folded laundry within just a few hours of pickup. Currently operating in Austin, NoScrubs has already attracted nearly 1,000 unique customers.

Rinse: The Uber of Laundry

Founded in 2013, Rinse has raised over $70 million and operates in several major U.S. cities. Dubbed the “Uber of laundry,” it provides both laundry and dry cleaning services with a standard turnaround of 3-4 days. Rinse prides itself on employing its workers rather than using independent contractors, and it has cleaned over 100 million garments since inception.

Innovative Business Models

Both startups have unique business models. NoScrubs leverages underutilized machines in laundromats and apartment complexes, while Rinse is expanding its B2B services alongside its direct-to-consumer model. Investors see potential in both companies, particularly NoScrubs for its scalable model.

The Future of Laundry Services

The laundry market is substantial, estimated at $15.75 billion in 2024, indicating ample room for growth despite the challenges faced by some past startups in the industry. Both NoScrubs and Rinse are focused on geographic expansion and enhancing their service offerings to capture more of this lucrative market.