Altcoins were in business and will remain in business no matter what happens with bitcoin. Bitcoin is standing on its own. So as many other alternative crypto currencies are standing on there own. Once there was time where market movements in the bitcoin would affect the altcoin market significantly. However recently many of these coins have garner larger investor base. Coins like ethereum, dash, monero, litecoin etc etc are today looking strong on their own. Price of these coins is less affected by bitcoin movement.
In short altcoins will remain in business. Strongest and brightest of them will thrive in future. Look at wave as recent example.