Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News about coronavirus in Florida and around the world is constantly emerging. It's hard to stay on top of it all but Health News Florida can help. Our responsibility is to keep you informed, and to help discern what’s important for your family as you make what could be life-saving decisions.

Why The Pandemic Could Be An Opportunity For Entrepreneurs

"Think Pods" in the University of Tampa's Lowth Entrepreneurship Center.
University of Tampa
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

The United States is facing its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, with unemployment in the double digits.  But for people looking to start a business, one expert says the road ahead might lead to opportunity. 

Rebecca White directs the University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. She says people out of work might find it easier to create a new job rather than find one. 

“You're probably going to see an increase in what you might call necessity entrepreneurship,” White said.

After 9/11, there was a burst of startups focused on security. The Great Recession led to new companies in real estate and finance. White said entrepreneurs will likely focus on education in the coming years.

“There's going to be all kinds of educational technology products that are going to come out of this, or products that are already out there that are now suddenly going to have gained some traction,” she said.

Examples include products to help with distance learning, and the mental health of college students. 

WUSF 89.7 depends on donors for the funding it takes to provide you the most trusted source of news and information here in town, across our state, and around the world. Support WUSF now by giving monthly, or make a one-time donation online at WUSF.org/give.

Copyright 2020 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

Bradley George comes to WUSF from Atlanta, where he was a reporter, host, and editor at Georgia Public Broadcasting. While in Atlanta, he reported for NPR, Marketplace, Here & Now, and The Takeaway. His work has been recognized by , the Georgia Associated Press, and the Atlanta Press Club. Prior to his time in Georgia, Bradley worked at public radio stations in Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina.