As the nation reels with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have taken a severe toll, unable to operate in the same reliable manner as they used to.

There is a reason why startups flourish so well: it is their ability to blend innovation and creativity to yield tools and services that break the mold of traditional ways. Their drive to utilize technology not only to its full extent but also in a creative way makes many things – previously unforeseen – imaginable and executable.

It is this same drive and passion which also puts startups in a very precarious and dramatic position. As the nation reels with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have taken a severe toll, unable to operate in the same reliable manner as they used to. Startups too bear the brunt of the pandemic, especially with resources and revenues thinning out. But for those who manage to stay afloat with a better grip on their finances, operations, and services, contributing to the society in these tough times can be a game-changer.

Let’s take a look at a few ways in which startups can give back to society:

1) One-up for the People - Lifestyle Many startups fold within themselves lifestyle-altering facilities and services. Those aimed towards health and well-being can take this time to help people out by guiding to maintain their health, fitness and mental peace. Through exercise, yoga and meditation sessions on various apps and social media, these startups can keep the community well-prepared and in a better shape. Startups based on community building and social interaction, especially the latter, can also take this time to ensure that rumours and curbed and people are exposed more towards the positive outlook. They can even implement notification services to alert about developments and combating techniques for everyone’s safety.

2) Installing Change – Awareness Deriving from the previous point, there exist many social-based startups that have already leveraged GPS, data crunching and map-based APIs to facilitate not only navigation, but pinpoint services and medical aids. By repurposing their technical knowledge to help spread awareness against hot zones and infected areas, various apps can be created – either individually promoted or tied with the government. These can help people navigate safely within their city when the need arises. Such apps can be provided for free so that everyone gets an access, thereby creating an information-rich preventive shield as the first line of defence. Applications can mean a world of difference if aligned towards the social cause.

3) More than Work-From-Home – Advise and Act Perhaps the smoothest transition to Work-From-Home was achieved by various IT and tech-based startups, already equipped with reliable means to carry out their tasks. But what about those small to medium business who weren’t even equipped to sustain themselves after a lockdown? This situation has adversely affected every business, whether online or offline, and even teams of freshly-incubated startups might be facing trouble in coordination and reliable communication with each other. This is where well-established startups can provide consultation to help others climb the ladder. They can guide smaller workforces to overcome their digital challenges and maintain a robust work-front without damaging their structure. And for small businesses, tech startups can lend their prowess in helping digitizing stores and communication for their clients to help maintain their business despite closing shops. By providing their array of automated, data collection and communication services, preferably at discounts or even for free for this duration, they can help many overcome the economic downfall to a certain extent.

4) The Online Theatre – Events and Webinars Undoubtedly, many people would be needing more than technological help to drive their work. Because many businesses had to shift their focus towards other means, they could use a lot by learning from the experts. By utilizing various video platforms – such as YouTube – organising events, lectures, tutorials and brainstorming sessions can be a very helpful drive for everyone to learn and grow. Lend your advice to the masses, go live with vlog-style inspirational videos or podcasts. The digital medium is an endless sea.

5) Tech vs COVID-19 - For a lot of pharmaceutical startups, the fight is out there. By ramping up their technological advances, both in devices and medicines, these startups can aid the government in providing a supplementary support structure to aid with screenings, isolations and combative measures. By manufacturing health kits, test kits, PPEs and various other medical equipment, and providing other innovative and creative solutions, these startups can change the game completely.

These are but a few ideas which can be implemented by individuals as well as startups. What suits whom is a question of individual evaluation, but there’s no limit of ways and ideas through which a startup can contribute to the society.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house