The middle of a pandemic, with a deep recession looming, might not seem like a good time to start something new — but there are good reasons to launch now if you are in the right industry. It is often noted that companies such as Airbnb, Netflix and Microsoft were started in recessions. But you do not have to be a future Microsoft to launch now; timing is important for both large and small enterprises.

Recessions equal layoffs, and there will be many people seeking a source of income after their unemployment benefits run out. The rise of the gig economy in a web-based world has made that second (or primary) income easier to access. Almost anyone can sell their services or digital products peer to peer via readily available apps. Ideally, you would want to be prepared to turn your side hustle into your main business when needed.

In terms of businesses to start, out of chaos has come opportunity. Online training and learning businesses have been doing well. The medical technology market is also booming, especially in areas such as digital health. Food safety is a concern, as are delivery services and many others. With most of the country housebound, online shopping has seen a steep increase as consumers spend most of their time online. It takes little imagination to see new needs and new markets.

It is not hard to find ideas for new businesses. Consider joining a free webinar featuring Silicon Valley venture capitalists discussing what they are investing in now. You will have no shortage of ideas for products and services you can sell. Venture capital funding is still strong, albeit at lower valuations, especially in technology and technology-enabled businesses. Angel investment is also strong as investors look for opportunities.

If the laws of economics hold, the flood of government money into the economy has made cash an asset nobody should be holding now because we might expect to see increased inflation. Although the stock market has been strong, we have seen how sensitive it is to government programs, and that volatility makes a promising startup look that much more attractive to a diversifying investor.

Finally, there has likely never been as much government money available to small business owners as there is right now. Many businesses can qualify for grant money at the state and federal levels from many agencies. The Small Business Administration lists numerous additional resources for grants and loans, as does the Silicon Valley Strong website. As an example, the California Statewide Certified Development Corporation (CDC) Small Business Finance offers various loans of up to 10 years.

The State of California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) also has $50 million in loan guarantees to small businesses. This is meant to help eliminate barriers to capital for people who do not qualify for federal funds. IBank’s Small Business Finance Center also offers loan guarantee programs for businesses affected by disasters for up to $1 million for seven years. For low-wealth entrepreneurs in declared disaster and emergency areas, IBank offers up to $10,000 for as many as five years.

As counterintuitive as it may sound, these hard times may be a good opportunity for you to start a new business, offer a new service or launch a company.