Covid-19 impact: Technology start-ups have multiple silver linings

The lockdown has severely crippled half the ecosystem, especially e-commerce and mobility services; but the other half - digital players in content, social media and so on - is having a field day

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed his mask while speak during his televised address to the nation on April 14, the business world was gasping. India had been under a nationwide lockdown for 21 days to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, and that had kept economic activity across the country on hold. Like all other industries, the tech start-up sector had been hoping for the curbs to be lifted. App-based commerce businesses — from cabs to general e-commerce — had been non-operational for nearly a month. 

PM Modi, however, kept the lockdown in place, extending it till May 3.