The coronavirus is decimating business at many venture capital–backed startups. But for a few firms, the pandemic has had the opposite effect, as consumers flock to products and services that make staying at home easier or help them cope with the crisis.
These companies, five of which we profile below, include an online pharmacy that has had a big jump in signups as people decide to have prescriptions delivered rather than risk a trip to the drugstore, and a long-struggling social media app that suddenly found an audience. Our roundup also looks at an online life insurance provider that has had a surge in inquiries, a painful reminder of the virus’s mounting toll.