Good morning,
If entrepreneurs have a singular talent, it’s the ability to find a silver lining of opportunity in any crisis.
Since March, even as the U.S. economy took a nosedive, small businesses in several industries have been thriving. Some, like food delivery startups or videoconferencing companies, make sense. Others are surprising: Companies that sell aloe vera, one of three common ingredients in homemade hand sanitizer, have seen major sales spikes.
All of which begs the question: What industries are next? Contactless tech, which directly helps reduce the risk of virus transmission in shared spaces like retail stores, seems ripe for expansion. Laura Kennedy, senior lead retail analyst at research firm CB Insights, tells Inc. that there’s been more interest this year in cashierless systems like those used at Amazon Go stores than ever before. The same goes for “smart” vending machines, voice-enabled kiosks, and any other self-service options for consumers.
That’s just the start. Read our story to learn about three industries that hold particularly promising opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to start new businesses--or expand into new verticals--today.