2. Venture funding will bounce back.

When the economy shrinks, the riskiest investments tend to be the first and worst hit. Historically, however, they've bounced back quickly.

That dynamic is currently playing out in the venture capital market. Data compiled by Crunchbase suggests the number of U.S. VC rounds during the pandemic fell by almost half. Worst-hit were seed deals, which declined by a record 57% in March through June of this year compared to last.

Those numbers may sound staggering, and they are, but they're also temporary. VC deals, even in markets outside the Bay Area, have rebounded. In Georgia, the total amount of venture capital invested in the third quarter is effectively flat from Q3 2019.

Don't expect investors to be starved for deals, but don't think of them as off the table, either. Just be prepared to prove your startup's relevance to a post-Covid world.

3. Incumbents will be eager for startup partnerships. 

Covid-19 has exposed industry incumbents that had grown comfortable with the status quo. Whereas startups were once the ones chasing partnerships with these companies, it's now larger enterprises that are eager for innovation partnerships.

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Recall that Tesla began not as a partner to a major automaker, but a breakout electric car brand. Hercules, however, is being courted by Nissan to build an electric truck.

Although market forces other than the pandemic are likely behind the potential partnership, the point stands: Markets have been shaken up, and incumbents feel the imperative to innovate. Under these conditions, it's startups that have the leverage.

If you're a startup leader looking for an industry partner, vet your options carefully. Established companies sometimes cannibalize or otherwise try to strongarm their smaller partners. Ask what your company gets out of the arrangement, and don't sign until you're satisfied.