Our story
Forged in the field. Refined in the code.
A letter from Peter Kafkakis, founder of Asteri
I grew up in a service van. While other kids were at the playground, I was riding along with my dad on jobs for our family business, Royal Carpet Cleaners. I was eleven.
The van
I learned how to care for a floor before I was old enough to drive. I also learned the harder thing, the one nobody writes down: how a customer comes to trust you. You show up when you said you would. You do the job right. You treat their home like it matters, because to them it does.
The other thing I loved
Computers were the other place I felt at home. I went to Towson University for computer science with one plan: start a software company. I graduated with a B.S. and a corporate offer on the table. The plan was working.
The choice
Then my dad broke his elbow, and suddenly the family business was at risk. I had two choices: sell it, or keep it going.
I turned the offer down and took over Royal.
“I chose the service business to continue a legacy.”
The wall
Running Royal changed how I saw business. I didn’t just want to run a company. I wanted to change the way companies like ours are run. And I kept hitting the same wall.
The booking tools we could buy wouldn’t bend to how we actually work, and they made it hard for customers to finish booking. Everything else was scattered: automation in GoHighLevel, customers in a separate CRM, reviews on yet another platform. None of it talked to each other, and keeping it in sync became a job of its own.
So we built it
Asteri started with booking built around how service businesses really work. Then we brought automation, reviews, and file storage into the same place as your customers and your jobs, so it all works as one.
Royal keeps us honest. It’s where Asteri gets tested against real jobs, real crews, and real customers.
Why it matters to you
I chose the service business to continue a legacy. Now, I am building the tools to help you create your own: better systems, and the know-how to run them.
Peter Kafkakis
Founder, Asteri & Royal Services
Building it with me
Peter KafkakisFounder & developer
Grew up in the van, studied computer science at Towson University, and runs Royal.
Tommy CampbellCo-founder & developer
Brings software engineering experience from Johns Hopkins. Studied at Towson University.
Sonny BotterillCo-founder & developer
Brings an engineering background from Aberdeen Proving Ground. Studied at the University of Maryland.
Rooted in Maryland
- Maryland proud
American proud
Greek proud
Bulgarian proud