Reddit has a great post on new business opportunities due to COVID-19. I’ve included them here:
Drop servicing - interest is up 4,900%
why the growth:
People on furlough or out of work are turning to new approaches to making money.
Gaming Glasses - interest is up 210%
why the growth:
As gaming usage spiked during the crisis, millions suffered from dry eyes, dizziness and other symptoms of long gaming sessions. Which got them into the habit of using orange-tinted glasses while playing.
Canned Wine - interest is up 286%
why the growth:
Wine consumption spiked during the lockdown. And as things start to open up, people want to a convenient way to enjoy wine at parks, concerts and other outdoor events.
Swiss Cheese Plant - interest is up 1,466%
why the growth:
Demand for plants of all kinds shot up during lockdowns (people were spending more time at home and wanted to spruce things up). And certain plants, like swiss cheese plant, grew in popularity thanks to popular posts on IG and TikTok.
Robotic Lawn Mower - interest is up 492%
why the growth:
This trend isn't directly related to Covid. Demand for robotic lawnmowers have spiked because the tech has significantly improved over the last 18 months.
Yakiniku - interest is up 19%
why the growth:
The crisis led to a spike in exotic foods that could be shared on IG and TikTok.
Dermaplaning - interest is up 1,440%
why the growth:
Shutdowns caused spas around the world to close. And many took their spa routines at home, including fairly involved techniques, like dermaplaning.
Pushpay - interest is up 293%
why the growth:
Churches struggled to take in cash donations during shutdowns. Many turned to Pushpay to fill in that gap. Even after church services open up, many congregations continue to donate via apps.
Cycling Shorts - interest is up 426%
why the growth:
With gyms closed, many fit-minded folks started cycling outside. And they quickly found that the right shorts help comfort and performance.
Laptop Stand - interest is up 203%
why the growth:
The WFH movement is one of the many metatrends that are going to stick around post-lockdown. For the millions that work at home, finding the right home office setup became a thing for the first time. Which led to a rise in ergonomic equipment.
Toppr - interest is up 426%
why the growth:
In the early days of the crisis, online learning was a chaotic mess of hastily stitched together Zoom calls. But as the months went on, teachers started to rely on structured elearning platforms.
Goli Gummies - interest is up 9,200%
why the growth:
Immunity boosting foods took off during the Coronavirus crisis. Apple cider vinegar was one such food. And Goli Gummies grew during that time with their AVG gummies. Many have retained the daily ACV gummy habit.
Hard Kombucha - interest is up 3,700%
why the growth:
With COVID-19 dominating headlines, alcohol consumption rose alongside greater concern for health and immunity. Hard kombucha helped bridge these two contradictory ideas. It's a way for health conscious folks to get a buzz without feeling guilty.
TikTok Editor - interest is up 7,200%
why the growth:
TikTok usage has exploded over the last few months. And as brands enter the platform, they want professional editors that can make their videos look great.
Substack - interest is up 1,150%
why the growth:
People increasingly feel overwhelmed with the news. Many are using paid newsletters to serve as a news and information "filter".
Google Meet - interest is up 9,400%
why the growth:
Video conferencing is the next big tech battle. Google Meet quickly rose from the sidelines once they saw Zoom.us become the major player. And this push appears to be taking off.
Britbox - interest is up 6,500%
why the growth:
Shutdowns led to significant more binge watching. And as people saw everything there is to see on Netflix, they turned to niche streaming services.
Garage gym - interest is up 234%
why the growth:
Even though gyms are opening up, people are still going to use and improve the garage gyms that they've invested in.
Start a YouTube channel - interest is up 137%
why the growth:
As unemployment hits record highs, more folks are trying to make it big on platforms like YouTube, TikTok and IG.
Focusmate - 6,200%
why the growth:
Many people struggle with the WFH transition. Which is why productivity tools specifically for folks that work from home are on the rise.
Yoga mat - interest is up 196%
why the growth:
Gyms may be opening, but many people found that they want to continue their at-home yoga routine.
Indie hackers - interest is up 1,516%
why the growth:
The shutdown led thousands to start the side hustle they always wanted to start. But never had time to do. And communities for new entrepreneurs are growing quickly.
Honeygain - interest is up 8,300%
why the growth:
Finances are tight. And will likely stay tight in the coming months. Which is why folks are looking for new tools they can us to save (or make) an easy buck.
Japanese cheesecake - interest is up 123%
why the growth:
Exotic foods that people can show off on Instagram is one trend that looks to be sustaining post-lockdown.
Hotmart - interest is up 3,233%
why the growth:
E-learning may be one of the biggest legacies of the crisis. Platforms like hotmart are taking advantage of the growth in this space.
Hiring remote - interest is up 1,333%
why the growth:
More companies are hiring remote staff than ever before. And they're searching for ways to screen, interview, hire and train employees that they're not able to meet in real life.
Viddyoze - interest is up 8,200%
why the growth:
As a record number of YouTube channels come online, people are seeking simple software they can use to edit videos.
The Home Depot - interest is up 61%
why the growth:
The DIY movement took off during the crisis. However, many DIYers want to stick to the habit even as they can now easily find contractors to help them with their projects.
DocuSign - interest is up 400%
why the growth:
Signing documents in person was already becoming obsolete for most agreements. But social distancing appears to put the final nail in that coffin.
TikTok influencers - interest is up 99X+
why the growth:
With Intagram influencers more expensive than ever before, marketers are looking to get in on the next wave of influencers on TikTok.
Podcast microphone - interest is up 518%
why the growth:
Thousands of people have started podcasts in 2020. And as podcasting goes pro, many find that their iPhone mic won't cut it.
carveboarding - interest is up 190%
why the growth:
Demand for outdoor activities (including carveboarding and roller skating) hasn't tapered off even as gyms start to open.
simracing - interest is up 250%
why the growth:
This expensive at-home hobby seems to have stuck even as the world begins to open up.
Time famine - interest is up 106%
why the growth:
As people spend more time on the news and social media, they're finding it hard to finish all of the items on their to-do list.
Teachable - interest is up 1,150%
why the growth:
There's increased interest in the "supply" side of elearning as well. Specifically, many are creating and selling courses for the first time.
Daily Harvest - interest is up 3,300%
why the growth:
Meal kits exploded during the crisis. And many plan to continue receiving meal kits even as things begin to normalize.
Basic income - interest is up 537%
why the growth:
The crisis has pushed many individuals and governments to reevaluate the merits of a universal basic income system.
Gumroad - interest is up 144%
why the growth:
People aren't just creating online courses. They're also starting to create and sell music, art and other products that they "never had time for" before.
Fandom - interest is up 300%
why the growth:
Massive amounts of downtime have led to people geeking out into their favorite niche hobbies and interests.
Pet wipes - interest is up 186%
why the growth:
Although covid-19 doesn't transfer between dogs and humans, people are more aware about sanitation.
Undertourism - interest is up 99X+
why the growth:
Hotspots like Santorini Greece and the Thai Islands have suddenly gone from teeming with tourists to relatively empty.
Fiverr - interest is up 194%
why the growth:
Not everyone is ready to replace 100% of their income with an online gig. In fact, a good chunk are supplementing their unemployment or stimulus checks by working on freelance boards.
Epidemic sound - interest is up 681%
why the growth:
People are creating more media than ever before. Which has led to more demand for sound and image libraries.
Udemy - interest is up 553%
why the growth:
Two-sided course marketplaces have seen spikes in demand from course creators and from those that want to learn.
House plant box - interest is up 860%
why the growth:
The plant delivery industry grew by leaps and bounds during the crisis. But one-off plant delivery services haven't done nearly as well as those that used a subscription model.
Everesting - interest is up 890%
why the growth:
The crisis forced people to exercise outside. And those that want a cross fit-type of intensity outdoors have turned to new forms of intense workouts.
Pellet grill - interest is up 844%
why the growth:
People forced to cook meals at home realized that a grill can help add variety to a stale slate of meals.
Laptop mouse - interest is up 33%
why the growth:
People that were suddenly forced to work from home realized that using a laptop all day was not remotely comfortable.
OMAD - interest is up 1,739%
why the growth:
Many people had trouble resisting temptation while stuck at home. Which is why the One Meal A Day community has grown significantly even as lockdowns end.
Lattice - interest is up 60%
why the growth:
Companies used to in-person management have turned to tools that specialize in remote work.
Manscaped - interest is up 8,400%
why the growth:
Men have started to take some of their spa routines at home for the first time.
Furrion - interest is up 1,328%
why the growth:
Lots of people aren't ready to hop on an airplane just yet. So they're turning to RV travel in order to scratch their travel itch.
Undraw - interest is up 9,700%
why the growth:
People that are creating or relaunching websites largely prefer illustrations to cheesy stock photos.
Cotija - interest is up 81%
why the growth:
Cotija is another example of an exotic food that appears to have staying power post-lockdown.
Tier list - interest is up 163%
why the growth:
Interest in video games shot up during the crisis. And many people found themselves becoming "hardcore gamers" for the first time.
Bikepacking - interest is up 809%
why the growth:
Bikepacking scratched two itches during lockdown: exercise and getting out of the house. Although people can now exercise at the gym and go outside without guilt, the bikepacking niche seems to be going mainstream.
Kartra - interest is up 4,700%
why the growth:
Like with YouTube channels, lots of people used the crisis as an opportunity to create their first website. Which led to demand for simple, integrated site builder tools.
Back Market - interest is up 1,025%
why the growth:
With millions out of work, demand for used electronics has skyrocketed.
Neem tree - interest is up 108%
why the growth:
Neem is one of many health products that blew up during the crisis. Unlike some others (like elderberry), neem looks to have staying power.
Epilator - interest is up 47%
why the growth:
High-end spa products for the home are one of the fastest growing categories post-lockdown.
Hellotalk - interest is up 338%
why the growth:
Hours of downtime gave people the perfect opportunity to learn a new language. But they didn't stop learning once things opened up. Especially for platforms like hellotalk, which have a relationship component.
Air purifying plants - interest is up 488%
why the growth:
People are understandably more aware of their air quality now. Which has led to more demand for plants that can clean the air.