https://www.siliconvalley.com/2021/01/24/bay-area-startup-equips-small-businesses-in-the-coronavirus-era/

As an unprecedented global pandemic spread to every corner of the U.S. last spring, it occurred to Joel Vincent that the ensuing free-for-all rush for supplies would yield some winners and a lot of losers.

Hospitals and other large institutions were placing bulk orders of personal protective equipment, including masks and sanitizer, to safeguard their workers from the new virus.