Thursday, December 31, 2015

OBQ 934: So very human, Mr. Khan!

Here is Mr. Khan from Pakistan, currently living in USA and technically doing much better than his more famous counterpart from India ;-) Very well educated, well thought out and founder of one of the greatest start-ups of this century, helping millions around the world.

Tell me who is he?

Answer: He is indeed Salman Khan the founder of Khan academy.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

OBQ 933: New wine in the old bottle?

Here is a French powerhouse that's been around for more than five decades and has some of the biggest brands in its portfolio, it was rechristened a few years ago by its all powerful owner.

Identify the brand/group from the logo.
Answer: Kering, the holding group that owns brands like Gucci and Puma


Sunday, December 27, 2015

OBQ 932: The way of warrior.

She is the one who has been there done that and now in her next career move she is trying to disrupt an industry that is in much need of it.

Connect to a business personality who is connected with all these big names.
Answer: This is the career path of Padmashree Warrier

Friday, December 25, 2015

OBQ 931: The spirit of Bombay.

Here is a brand that tries to capture the fantasy of colonial world in a bottle, quite literally! And at the heart of this brand is Maximum city the pearl in the queen's necklace...well a precious stone if not a pearl!

In the words above and the pics below there are enough hints...connect to a brand that's leaning on the past to build its identity.

Answer: Bombay Sapphire

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

OBQ 930: Failed design, famous empire.

Here is a design from a world war era, that never went to production. What is name of the product? Here the designer is more famed than the product itself and he went to on create a company to which he lent his last name.

Points only for the exact answer.
Answer: The failed prototype for Tiger tank during WWII era designed by Porsche.

Monday, December 21, 2015

OBQ 929: The hail raisers!

Yes, thats spelled correctly There is a lot of hailing happening in this business, be it for customers or be it investors, and everyone is so far happy with the ride!

Identify the logo of a Chinese firm that's making a name for itself by taking on the biggest player in the world in the "Hailing business".

Answer: Didi Kuaidi the most popular taxi hailing app of China.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

OBQ 928: Awwww so cute!

Lets face it, all marketers are liars!!! they will always cross the lines to get the products moving...

When this ad must have come out in 1950s it would be surely seen as "cute and Awwwwinspiring" today this product is almost unmarketable, though marketers do their best to find a way to keep it moving...

Tell me which product is being marketed? Extra points for those who can name the brand...

Answer: An ad for Marlboro cigarettes believe it or not!

Thursday, December 17, 2015

OBQ 927: Three men and an empire.

This is the closest one can get to a monopoly, within last two centuries and between these three men lies the story of creation of one of the biggest industry which is now going to look very different as the giants tie a knot to create a company that impacts the quality of the water that you drink to the quality of display of your smart phones.

Enough said...tell me the name of these companies and the recent event that has set a new benchmark in the world of deal making.

Answer: The merger of Du Pont and Dow Chemicals





Tuesday, December 15, 2015

OBQ 926: When it came without wheels.

This product has seen better days, though these days its namesake is enjoying the dame and doing the rounds quite literally.

Give me the name of the brand that was lent from a gun from bygone era.

Answer: The Enfield rifle.



Sunday, December 13, 2015

OBQ 925: In search of the true greenbacks.

Climate change, global warming and the whole business around it...here is something that captures or try to capture the "greenness" of the business in India.

Connect these four images and tell me what is the implied connection...lots of hints there!

Answer: BSE Greenex which is an index made of Green companies of India

Friday, December 11, 2015

OBQ 924: The creatives and the money makers

Here is a company that has used both sides of its brain to create an enduring business and made millions for itself and its client across the world. Connect these three images and tell me the overall answer.
Answer: McCann Erickson

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

OBQ 923: The good samaritan.

Connect these three images to an institute that started with saving humanity from natural calamity of famine and now has converted itself into a full fledged humanitarian enterprise.

Answer : Oxfam

Monday, December 7, 2015

OBQ 922: All for sports...for sure!

This has been a silent mover in Indian retailing industry, they have established more than 20 stores in less than a year, identify the global player with help of these three pics.

Answer: Decathlon, the sport retailer.


Friday, December 4, 2015

OBQ 921: Second inning not out...

Well that is big enough a hint, identify the colorful logo of venture capital firm and the adventurous man behind it.


Answer: You we can ventrues, the venture capital firm started by Yuvraj Singh


Tuesday, December 1, 2015

OBQ 920: Gone is the glory.


Here is an old logo of a company that started in 19th century, and created super rich people in last 150 years and also made the business a power-play for Super power countries, now its in a process of slow death!

Identify the brand from its logo..

Answer: Standard Oil


Sunday, November 29, 2015

OBQ 919: Love for fun and love for money!

Here is a business that nails it when it comes to making money by making people happy, over the last 90 years it has completely changed the way people  enjoy themselves and yes in the process they have racked in some serious moola!

Answer: Disney

Friday, November 27, 2015

OBQ 918: Brick, Mortar and Bytes!!!

Here is a business that is one of the oldest India born fashion houses, and its upping the ante by getting in the online world to take on the new generation e-tailers that are trying to eat their pie!

Give me the brand name of the on-line venture...its a four letter thing, because after all its all about business ;-)

Answer: All about fashion started by Aditya Birla group.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

OBQ 917: Roaming romeos are here!

In the over crowded world of apps here is one more, but with a twist. Its the desi version of Uber if you know what I mean...and yes it has a very Indian twang to its name...and here is a logo that represents the bumbling bee. Give me the name of app/start-up.

Answer: Jugnoo the ricksaw hailing app.

Monday, November 23, 2015

OBQ 916: A design element of Democracy.

This is the design that will be seen an used by a lot of Indians in the future, what is this symbol for? It has definitely a democratic one as it allows you to exercise your freedom...to choose nothing!

Answer: None of the above option which is available on all voting machines in India now.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

OBQ 915: Old trends with new whistles!

Here is one of the oldest publicaiton house in world marrying with new world capabilities to come up with something that has trended through out this week.

Give me a very specific connect to the trend term that I am referring to, as usual brownie points for those who can connect each image with the theme!

Have a good weekend :)
Answer: Oxford dictionary word of the year, which they do in colloboration with swift key.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

OBQ 914:Marriage of Titans!

There are biggies and then there are Titans and you are never sure what to call it when two titans are merged! Tell me what happened recently that will now connect the three images below and create one of the largest company of its kind?

Answer: Marriott's acquisition of Starwoods hotels.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

OBQ 913: The rising sun.

Identify the business leader and the business he leads that's spreading its tentacle across India, and has disrupted the otherwise conservative media world.

Answer: Divya Bhaskar group also known as DB Corp

Sunday, November 15, 2015

OBQ 912: The pearl of desert.

Nevada is famous for Las Vegas but soon there will be a different kid on the block which will make it famous for a very different kind of business.

What is underconstruction below and who is building it?
Answer: The gigafactory being constructed by Tesla motors in Nevada desert

Friday, November 13, 2015

OBQ 911: My name is H...HK!

This brand has now a big connection with Mr. Bond, but it has been making its name from a while now as it has association with real life heroes like NSG and many more across the world, give me the brand name that definitely makes itself heard!

Answer: Heckler and Koch the small arms manufacturer

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

OBQ 910: The Diwali standard procedure!

Well this is Diwali special question, if you have grown up in India this brand has literally fired up all your Diwali, so as a tribute lets remember it! I need a specific brand name as the clues in the two images below are too strong!
Answer: Standard fireworks from Sivakasi

Monday, November 9, 2015

OBQ 909: E-magine a new way of reading!

This company is disrupting the fast declining industry, by completely re imagining the way it should be done, identify the logo of brand/app.


Answer: Magzter the e-magazine reading app


Saturday, November 7, 2015

OBQ 908: Eye candy!

Here is a brand that is lately getting a lot of "discretionary spending" from the girl brigade, connect this three images to an iconic manufacturer and its new brand that's grabbing some attention.

Answer: Caprese the handbags and purse brand from VIP


Thursday, November 5, 2015

OBQ 907: Its kind of war!!

Here is global giant thats gearing up for a big face-off on the Indian turf, and yes the name of the company itself sounds like a war, an Indian one!

Tell me the brand/company name.

Answer: Cargill launching its Atta brand in India by the name of Sampoorna

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

OBQ 906: Fill in the blanks

He had an interesting life and the biography that he wrote also had very funny sounding name. So tell me what have I blanked out below? And yes please dont tell me who is the author...because thats very obvious!
Answer: "Finger licking good", what else to expect from Colonel Sanders :-)




Sunday, November 1, 2015

OBQ 905: Yes we can

In the so called world of free speech it took someone three years to take on the world in a fully democratic way, here are his words on twitter. Who is he?

Answer: Edward Snowden

Friday, October 30, 2015

OBQ 904: This is called business yoga!!!

This is the brand that took less than five years to hit the billion dollar mark, and is creating waves in business world through great positioning and by striking alliances with some big names. Give me the brand name.
Answer: Patanjali Ayurved Limited

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

OBQ 903: All smiles!

I need a very specific answer here, give me name of a brand that connects all three images here and explain whats the connect.
And yes smile while you do that :)

Answer: Oral-B

Monday, October 26, 2015

OBQ 902: The sound of music.

He has redefined or rather refined the way we hear music, who is he?

Answer: Amar Bose

Saturday, October 24, 2015

OBQ 901: The icon behind the brand.

Here is a case where the brand ambassador is more famous than the brand! Connect these two images and give me a brand that started from Gujarat but is now having national ambitions, just like its Brand ambassador!!!

Answer: The Chauhan brothers of Jade Blue, that designs clothes for Mr. Modi.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

OBQ 900: The master of Strategy.

And its Question number 900!!! Thanks fellow quizzers :)

The strategy lesson that he wrote more than 2500 years ago have proven themselves timeless and are applied by business leaders all over the world even today, who is he?

Answer: Sun Tzu the brains behind "Art of war" the ultimate treatise on strategy.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

OBQ 899: Dont ask why, ask Y!!!

This is a dream come true to all wanna be entrepreneurs. Its like a venture capitalist cum mentor cum match maker! What institution am I referring to? Connect the images below and give me an answer.
Answer: Y-Combinator

Sunday, October 18, 2015

OBQ 898: Definitely not a House of cards!

This company has taken the television industry by storm, innovative products, great programming and amazing business vision...it has all elements that makes it a blockbuster business. Give me the name of company!
Answer: Netflix

Friday, October 16, 2015

OBQ 897:Swedish touch to the Desi wardrobe.

One of the largest retailer in its category is now in India, connect the images below and give me a brand name.
Answer: H&M

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

OBQ 896: A starry affair!

There are stars all over this brand, be it in the business or be it in the family. Connect to an emerging brand thats increasingly becoming braver and global.
Answer: Micromax

Monday, October 12, 2015

OBQ 895: Leading the Indian brigade.

There are lots of Indian heading some of the world's largest companies. This gentlemen though not as famous as Satya Nadella or Sundar Pichai leads that pack. Who is he?
Answer: Shantanu Narayan of Adobe

Saturday, October 10, 2015

OBQ 894: Almost like a mythical beast!

Connect these three pictures to a brand and tell me what is the connect. Think out of the metal box!

Answer: Mahindra TUV 300

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

OBQ 893: The big daddy of the new technology!

He made it big in the .com world almost 20 years ago where some of these newbies are still struggling. Who is he?
Answer: Sanjeev Bikchandani

Monday, October 5, 2015

OBQ 892: Definitely not a country!

This company owns a brand whose logo is down here and the brand name sounds like a country with shady credentials! The company also has helped Levi's sell more jeans than anyone else. Give me name of the company/brand.

Answer: Banana republic

Saturday, October 3, 2015

OBQ 891: No.1 eh?

Here is a brand that is obsessed with "numbers", though in a very unconventional way. Here are some clues that you need to connect to one of the most iconic brands that has inspired many!!!

Answer: Jack Daniels, Frank Sinatra's favorite!

Thursday, October 1, 2015

OBQ 890: The great divide.

Its ironic that this concept that started as a way to bridge the divide between the rich and poor in the world has divided world into two! Identify the revolution that I am talking about from its logo.
Answer: Internet.org also known as Free basics now.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

OBQ 889: The match that was made in court!

This is one of the most debated M&A of the year and obviously it required a lot of legal intervention, connect these images to two companies that were involved in it.
Answer: GE's takeover of Alstom

Sunday, September 27, 2015

OBQ 888: Firefighter of the year!

Some consider that he is been given an almost impossible task of corporate firefighting in this world, who is he and what task is he up to?
Answer: Mathias Muller the new CEO of VW

Friday, September 25, 2015

OBQ 887: The new lion in the town.

In the Hollywood jungle this is literally new Lion, connect these three images to one great production house. And yes you get marks only if you can explain the connect with the pics.
Answer: Lionsgate 



Wednesday, September 23, 2015

OBQ 886: Riding on a bigger brand name!

Connect these two images to give me name of brand (s) that were recently in news. Its like match made in heaven!
Answer: Hero cycles and its acquisition of firefox

Monday, September 21, 2015

OBQ 885: Rebirth of shorts!

She is one of the most revolutionary figure 20th century, both in literary world and business world. Now at ripe age of 89 she is "setting" the world on fire again! Who is she? I just gave you a subtle hint there ;-)
Answer: Harper Lee