The Startup Will Use the Funding to Acquire More Commercial Clients
(Baton Rouge, La., May 24, 2023) — Suds Laundry Services, a tech-enabled commercial laundry service company, recently won a $10,000 cash prize at the Demo Day pitch competition. Demo Day is the closing event of Ignition 2.0, Nexus Louisiana’s eight-week spring accelerator program for companies that are ready to take the next step — seeking funding.
Chris Hilliard, co-founder and chief operating officer at Suds Laundry Services, said the accelerator helped him identify and narrow down the market for the company’s services.
Hilliard competed against several startups for the cash prize, which Innovation Catalyst supplied. The money isn’t attached to a stake in the company, but it does allow members of Innovation Catalyst to buy shares of Suds Laundry Services at a discounted rate once the company is ready to seek larger investments.
“I am delighted to have the support of Innovation Catalyst in the development of Suds Laundry Services and the other amazing startups in this cohort,” said Stephen Loy, executive director of the Nexus Louisiana Tech Park. “Chris has worked hard to make this opportunity a reality, and this is a testament to his dedication and innovation.”
“The team at Nexus really helped us hone in on the actual specifics and foundation of where we were going,” Hilliard said. “Nexus has been critical in everything we’ve done in the past year.”
Hilliard’s success as an entrepreneur extends beyond Suds Laundry Services. He serves as an adjunct professor at Southern University teaching introduction to business and entrepreneurship and will soon be mentoring members of Baton Rouge's Young Entrepreneurs Academy.
“We are excited to invest in Chris,” said Bill Ellison, CEO at Innovation Catalyst and Red Stick Angels. “His ability to bring Suds Laundry Services to the next level is no surprise to us, and we are honored to be a part of this journey.”
Hilliard said he plans to use the funding to build out his sales team and support the company’s go-to-market strategy.
For the latest in Louisiana startup news and opportunities, please visit https://nexusla.org.
About NexusLA
Nexus Louisiana’s mission is to accelerate the growth of high-potential companies by providing them with coaching, capital and connections. Our programs leverage regional collaboration to foster mentorship, investment and opportunity for local entrepreneurs to grow their ideas and transform the technology industry in Louisiana. For more information, please visit https://nexusla.org.
About Innovation Catalyst
Innovation Catalyst is a nonprofit venture development organization formed by community leaders to strengthen and broaden Louisiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and drive new high-tech company formation through coaching, connections and capital. For more information, please visit https://innovationcatalyst.us.
About Suds Laundry Services
Suds Laundry Services is an on-demand mobile application that allows consumers, both commercial and residential, the ability to have garments picked up, processed, cleaned, and delivered back to them within 24-48 hours. Serving Baton Rouge since 2018, Suds is planning to expand to over 10 cities by the end of this year. Download our app today and never do laundry. For more information, please visit https://sudslaundryservices.com.