Startups struggling during pandemic
There are startups struggling to keep their heads above the deluge of a pandemic-induced depression. Between 2016 and 2018, the global startup economy generated over $3 trillion. A far cry from today’s economic value. Today, startups struggle to keep operations running during the pandemic. Web companies throughout Europe have lost close to 400 billion euros during the coronavirus pandemic. Chinese venture capital investing has dipped 50% compared to everyone else.
“Startups that are supported by venture capital funds are merely a small part of the startup ecosystem. Startups that don’t have venture capital funding, which is the majority of them, stand to lose substantial money during this pandemic-caused shutdown,” said Dane Stangler, a business writer for Forbes.
“All across the country, there are startups that, while they may not have hefty venture capital funding, are still significant to the ecosystem because of their job creation,” he continued. These startups face serious setbacks and are expected to see a giant decline of growth during this pandemic. Small businesses are already in a bind because of forced closures and rapidly waning sales.
Far reaching effects
Startups supported by venture capital have far-reaching effects on the rest of the economy. These high-tech companies generate up to five jobs for every one job they directly create. “That means that the inevitable economic bodyslam they’re about to receive or have already received will be felt by almost every other facet of the job market,” explained Stangler. According to the Startup Genome report, the pandemic will damage startups that were in the process of raising capital and will likely kill the majority of them.
What can be done?
“Federal emergency support for small businesses is certainly the right play here. The deli down the street, the local mechanic, the mom and pop burger joint; they all need help right now,” Stangler lamented. So do tech and science startups. Many of which were in the middle of getting off the ground when the corona crisis crashed the economy.
“Pumping money into them right now is the best thing that can be done to help them in the now.”
The low-interest rate climate that has helped boost venture funds has also pushed many startups to survive on debt. We’ll have to come to terms with this for now. “Market momentum isn’t necessarily ideal for the time being. Moreover, the “reallocation” forces that you hear entrepreneurs mention a lot has been kiboshed for now,” explained Stangler.
Startups struggling to put the pieces of their company back together might see a glimmer of hope on the horizon, though.
Hope on the horizon
Recessions breed good businesses. Don’t believe me? According to the Startup Genome report, over 50 billion dollar tech startups were created during the recession of 2007 to 2009. Fun fact: more than 50% of the companies on the Fortune 500 list to date were founded during a recession.
Sure, startups struggling during a national pandemic can paint a demoralizing picture. But there might be some good news peaking through the dark clouds. It’s clear that venture capital funding is at a standstill right now. But it could mean that more startups will get funded when things return to somewhat-normal. The Startup Genome report shows us that during the 2001 and 2009 recessions, the number of companies that were funded by venture capitalists exploded and fast. For example, in the four years after the 2009 recession, the number of venture capital deals spiked by 25% every year.
