It’s pretty bleak out there. Investors are tightening their belts amid the highest inflation in decades, and high-flying company valuations are crashing back to earth. In the last year, tech stocks witnessed their biggest setbacks since the early 2000s, and IPO activity came to a screeching halt. 

But it’s not all bad news. While many companies are hemorrhaging cash or in some cases closing their doors, new startups continue to sprout. In an effort to look beyond the gloomy headlines, The Logic spoke with five founders who’ve launched new companies despite the economic downturn. Whether building an e-commerce venture or a platform that teaches mental wellness to children, these entrepreneurs saw reason for optimism when many others did not.