After the exit: High-tech hustle meets Main Street for this former startup CTO

When Career Karma was acquired last year, co-founder Artur Meyster had already determined his next adventure would be all about applying a tech founder’s skills to the “real world.” After leaving Silicon Valley for Miami, he found a new city with a familiar problem: the never-ending mountain of family laundry.

In San Francisco, Meyster used a wash-and-fold service all the time. But in Miami, with a washer and dryer at home – and kids – it was a constant fight with his wife over who was doing the washin and folding. He realized that while society has embraced Instacart for grocery shopping and DoorDash and Uber for food delivery, laundry remained one of the last chores families felt obligated to struggle through themselves.

The opportunity to bridge this gap arrived when Jeremy Burke, a friend and former colleague, pointed out a cash-flowing neighborhood laundromat for sale in Normandy Isles. While initially presented as a passive investment, Meyster, a former CTO, saw a blank canvas for digital transformation. In 2024, Meyster and his new business partner acquired it and renamed it Normandy Laundry.

The digital spin cycle

Meyster and Burke didn’t just buy a business; they rebuilt the customer experience from the ground up. They lightened up and modernized the interior and repaired the machines, but the true “magic” was the tech layer: an online platform that allowed customers to schedule pick-ups for personalized wash and fold service with a few clicks.

By partnering with Uber for logistics, Normandy Laundry achieved something almost unheard of in the industry: a four-hour rush service. A driver could be at a customer’s door within 30 minutes, whisking away clothes to be returned fresh and folded by dinner. To handle the influx of queries, Meyster implemented an AI receptionist to ensure no customer call went unanswered –and that drastically boosted conversion and satisfaction.

They treated the service like a tech product, hyper-focused on total personalization. Customer preferences – like hypoallergenic detergents, specific fabric softeners, hang-dry instructions, or cold-wash preferences – could all saved in a digital profile.

“We specialized in personalizing every bag and every load,” Meyster said in an interview with Refresh Miami. Hotels used the service, too. And while many customers were used to dropping off their laundry, now they could send it in an Uber. “We quickly became the highest-rated service in Miami Beach, with a 4.9-star rating.”

The success of Normandy Laundry’s digital-first model caught the eye of My Sunny Laundry, a family-owned chain with 15 locations across Miami, New York City and the Hamptons. Founded about 15 years ago by a father-and-son team, Laurent Broda and Michael Broda, the chain had the physical footprint but lacked the sophisticated digital infrastructure Meyster had brought to Normandy Laundry.

Last fall, Meyster exited again. This time, My Sunny Laundry acquired Normandy Laundry along with its technological engine to roll out across the growing network. “Their goal is to double the footprint in the next three years,” said Meyster, who remains on board as an advisor and investor. “Together we are integrating our digital platform and AI automations to bring laundry service to customers from South Miami to North Miami Beach and beyond.”

The ‘silver tsunami’ and the future of service

The merger signals a broader shift: the modernization of Main Street through technology. In an era some call the “silver tsunami,” as retiring baby boomers look to sell their small businesses, operators with tech backgrounds are stepping in – not to disrupt from the outside, but to upgrade from within. Meyster sees a “massive opportunity” in the modernization and roll-up of essential services.

“A lot of people are beginning to wake up to this opportunity. It just requires hustle and a willingness to learn the trade. Once you own it, you can make the tech and workflow improvements needed to update the business.” he says.

Meyster is on the hunt, too. “I’m currently looking to buy more small businesses across home services or IT services here in Miami.” He’s already an investor in a mental health clinic roll-up, for example.

As for My Sunny Laundry, Meyster is developing an unlimited laundry membership for a flat monthly fee so families could use it multiple times a week. “A lot of the time laundry services are perceived to be very expensive, and our goal is to provide a common essential service that a lot of families can rely on without breaking the bank,” Meyster says, comparing it to a car wash subscription, or regular lawn care or pool service.

“We’re based in Miami Beach and we’re excited to be giving back to the community,” Meyster adds. “I love Miami. I think Florida has been a remarkable place to build a business, and I see Miami as a hub for many more of my businesses in the future.”

After the exit: High-tech hustle meets Main Street for this former startup CTO

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