My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Capitalize on emergency PPE demand during health crisis
Manufacturers, importers, or entrepreneurs with access to supply chains
3-6 months (crisis window)What Success Looks Like
Securing multi-million dollar government contracts for PPE supplies while maintaining 30-50% margins
Steps to Execute
Identify existing manufacturing or import capabilities
Research government procurement processes and requirements
Establish relationships with suppliers in manufacturing countries (China, India)
Pivot production immediately to high-demand items (masks, respirators, gloves)
Target institutional buyers (hospitals, government) over consumers
Scale production capacity rapidly while demand exceeds supply
Manage inventory carefully as crisis demand subsides
Checklist
Inputs Needed
- Manufacturing capability or supplier relationships
- Capital for inventory and equipment
- Understanding of regulatory requirements
- Government contracting knowledge
Outputs
- Government contracts worth $10M-$100M+
- Established relationships with institutional buyers
- Proven crisis response capability
- Manufacturing infrastructure
Example
“Company immediately shifts from consumer products to N95 masks when COVID hits, wins $113M government contract by being among first suppliers to meet institutional demand”
Related Knowledge
Crisis Pivot Framework
A systematic approach to rapidly shifting business operations during crisis events to capture emergency demand in new ma
Savage Scaling Framework
A rapid content/product scaling approach that prioritizes volume and speed over perfection to dominate a market category
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inventory_overbuying_trap
Survive in expensive city with minimal capital while building business
Generating enough revenue to cover basic living expenses while building scalable business foundation
Crisis Window Opportunity Model
Major crisis events create temporary market inefficiencies with massive profit potential, but only for those who act wit