Venture capital firms had a rough go of it during the COVID economic shutdown. That's not because they weren't searching for worthy startups, but mostly because the entire startup pool nearly dried up for the better portion of a year. Today, things are back on track, and 2021 looks to be a healthy year for venture capital firms out to find the next Apple, Microsoft, or PayPal. What are the niches attracting the most attention from deep pockets organizations this year? There are plenty of worthy candidates, but the following four are already getting the lion's share of attention, and capital.

Healthcare

Telehealth is perhaps the single most transformative trend in the health care industry in a century. Venture capital professionals know that, which is why they're in search of innovative companies that can deliver faster, more interactive programs and systems to this rapidly expanding market. Once considered a non-starter form of technology, telehealth now has the realistic potential to deliver quality healthcare and preventive treatment to any location on earth.

Commercial Fleet Management Technology

Corporate fleets have been enjoying a golden age with the arrival of the delivery economy that materialized during the COVID pandemic. The virus caused historic, permanent changes in dozens of industries, and fleet management was one of them. With the rise of widespread consumer delivery of goods like groceries, fast food, furniture, and large appliances, the direct-to-buyer delivery channel is as crowed as ever.

Venture capital firms are pouring money into firms that are on the verge of developing next-phase tech to the vehicle telematics industry. With providers like Samsara and others are at the forefront of the segment, and most of the fresh technology will show up in their systems first. Company owners and managers who know the value of vehicle telematics can review a helpful guide on the topic and catch up on what's happening in this fast-paced industry.

Cryptocurrency

Since bitcoin launched in 2009, the entire cryptocurrency market has been gaining momentum. Still considered volatile and risky for individual investors, millions of consumers are buying up huge quantities of virtual money for the purpose of speculation, investment, and as a form of payment. The crypto industry is reliant on speedy technology, hack-resistant programs, and verifiable transactions that venture capital firms have their work cut out for them. With thousands of startup coins and ancillary service provides vying for funds, venture capitalists have to spend long hours vetting worthy candidates.

Teleworking

Now that the entire concept of the business office has been turned on its head in the post-COVID era, venture capital professionals are keeping their eyes on startups that aim to reinvent the commercial real estate industry. Things like shared offices, co-ops, and mobile work space are among the freshest ideas being touted by entrepreneurs who seek large amounts of capital to get off the ground. Other companies seek seed money to develop products for at-home workers, like more energy-efficient computers, larger monitors, ergonomic seating, and new age office paraphernalia of all kinds. The teleworking phenomenon has made traditional office buildings obsolete in some ways.