Market history says a recession could produce the next Airbnb or Slack

Layoffs, rising interest rates, spiraling valuations — this is a tough time for startups.

Amid the broader economic downturn and bear market in tech stocks, investors have been favoring profitability — or at least a reasonable path to get there — over the promise of future growth.

That’s been a tough sell for the VC-funded startup market’s ability to monetize innovation, at least in the short term.

According to the just-released annual…