Summary: 

Communications professional with 2 decades’ experience in creating, building and managing perceptions of brands across agency and client environments.

Experience spanning corporate communications, public relations, marketing communications, investor relations, digital/social media marketing and employee communication for B2B (technology) and B2C brands.

Winner of gold at Socialathon India 2015, gold at Emvie 2015 (Best media innovation - social media) and bronze at DMA Asia Echo Award 2015 (Interactive - Creative use of data).

Guest lecturer at Tata Management Training Centre's Leadership Development Program for IAS Officers and Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru – Advanced Digital Marketing and Digital Marketing for CMOs

Award-winning blogger, across 2 areas of interest - professional blog, since 2008 (communications/marketing - http://www.beastoftraal.com) and music blog, since 2005 (http://www.milliblog.com). 

Frequent columnist in leading publications, on the intersection of corporate communications, social media and advertising/marketing. Samples:
- How to build a socially relevant brand | ET BrandEquity http://bit.ly/2NuutnP 
- From 'Log kya kahenge?' to 'Log kya keh rahe hain' | ET BrandEquity 
- http://bit.ly/2u0jydn 
- Amazon-Swara Bhaskar Issue: An Analysis | afaqs! http://bit.ly/2qTF9ll 
- How to avoid social media self-destruction | The Economic Times http://bit.ly/2MuxvrD

Frequent speaker and panelist in leading events to talk on and discuss perspectives on communications, branding and social media.


Karthik Srinivasan

Fantastic set of hardworking ads for Ather that showcase specific features in the most fun, entertaining (and hence memorable) ways! Take the 'reverse' ad. Instead of showing the feature in a matter-of-fact, practical way (which Ather had done earlier when this feature was launched), it frames the feature as a fun device to delight a child. And the parent indulges, using the feature in the most unusual way. 

The 'skid control' ad was my favorite. It's rooted in a specific milieu (KL registered vehicle) and seems functional enough till the 25th second. Observe what happens then 😆 That... is an excellent demonstration of how good the product is at least claim-wise.

The 'auto hold' ad is a bit functional, showing two people for comparison (one has Ather, and hence 'auto hold'; the other doesn't, and hence, keeps slipping). But the demonstration feels real and relatable at least. Not fun, but still hardworking.

The 'send location' seemed like the weakest among the four, to me. It's relatable, no doubt, but someone who craves for a specific kind of food, in present times, is more likely to order it and get it within 10-20 minutes than move out of the house to eat it at the store. Still, it's not improbable and Ather could perhaps rationalize it as the vehicle being such fun to ride, offering such great mileage/range, that people would rather take the vehicle for a spin than ordering that food through an app for home delivery :)

All four ads play back-to-back.

Good work by Ather's in-house creative team!

#advertising #marketing #creativity

Communications strategy consultant. Connect with me for corporate workshops on personal branding. Ex-Ogilvy, ex-Flipkart, ex-Edelman. No paid posts - my words are not for sale.

When I was reading Devina Mehra's Mint write-up last week, I couldn't help observe how Indian advertising mirrors this pattern almost perfectly.

The core of the write-up is this: Women’s competence is celebrated only when it is unpaid, invisible, or emotionally framed. The moment it becomes economic, authoritative, or powerful, it is masculinised.

In advertising, women are "naturally caring", "instinctively good at home management", "born multitaskers" or "emotionally intelligent" - women's capability framed as biological grace, not earned expertise.

Women’s labour is also romanticised when it’s unpaid. Cooking as love, cleaning as care or emotional management as duty... while the labour disappears into emotion. In short, a woman doesn’t work - she "does it for her family".

Women’s products are positioned as maintenance, not empowerment. So fairness creams are for 'acceptance', deodorants are for 'concealment', sanitary napkins are for 'silence' ("no stains, no embarrassment"), detergents are for 'approval'. The advertising for these products don’t expand power, but 'help' women maintain social acceptability.

The article talks also about women being expected to regulate emotions, manage relationships, remember schedules, and hold families together - and Indian advertising has institutionalised this! Classic ad tropes include a mother noticing silence at dinner, wife sensing husband’s stress, daughter managing everyone’s moods. 

Devina's article describes society, while advertising aestheticises it. It doesn’t just reflect the pattern - it makes it desirable. It turns inequality into 'warmth', 'nostalgia', 'sanskaar', or 'Indian values'. This is far more powerful than policy or tradition alone because it moves from 'women should do this' to 'this is what love looks like'. 

Things are changing so very slowly that a mutual funds brand ad that shows women offering financial advice in male voice (to make a solid point) stands out like 'Man bites dog'. Even progressive Indian advertising often stays within safe boundaries. Women are shown as - strong but still beautiful, independent but still nurturing, or ambitious but not threatening. 

#advertising #marketing #gender

A worthy sequel to the terrific first ad from May 2024 (see: https://lnkd.in/gZfsASVd)! The sequential logic is solid: if everyone's already into the product, let's look at what's coming in the way of people consuming it and exaggerate that aspect. That line of thought helps set the confounding mystery of bizarre things happening for the first 20 seconds. And then, bam... you get it 😂

Excellent continuation of their work by the agency Enormous.

#advertising #marketing #creativity

I had long forgotten about 'Feeding India' that I used to notice on Zomato. I remember it as an 'opt-out' feature in the final bill's line items and this caused quite a number of people to complain vocally on social media (rightly so - it should be opt-in, not opt-out) sometime ago. Zomato explained it as being added once a user chooses it (opts for it) the first time. So, subsequent bills will have this as opt-out, with a small 'remove' link next to it (which I'd argue is a dark pattern).

What would have been a considerably better method is to introduce the scale,  scope, and impact of Feeding India contributions via Eternal companies like Zomato, Blinkit, and District, and then let people consciously choose that donation (or customize/increase the amount, an option now available) depending on how much they trust the company.

And that introduction to scale and scope is being done by this new ad beautifully (conceived in-house). In multiple languages, at that! The tone of the ad film is all (pre-'Hustle') Zomato - the focus is sharply on food and love for food. 

After watching the ad, I tried the 'Feeding India' search on the Zomato app (see in my comment, below) - this is a very nice touch to add a personalized interactive element to the advertising effort, and got a result that felt underwhelming to me, though our food orders have reduced drastically in recent times (preferring home-made food more and more, resorting to outside food very occasionally). 

I also checked Eternal's last 3 annual reports for updates on the program. Under the ESG update in the latest annual report, it says, 'Through its Daily Feeding Program, Feeding India provides nutritious meals daily to over 100,000 children in under-served communities, reaching more than 1,000 educational centres across 160+ cities. FI served 36 million meals in FY25 and more than 200 million meals overall since inception".

I realized that I had not opted for this donation in my billing, and after watching this ad, I just might consciously opt in.

#advertising #marketing #ESG

Excellent ad for Republic Day, though this is from a couple of months before Coronavirus swept through India in the first wave, in 2020. The series of questions posed by the young boy that the mother is unable to answer, and the one question she does have a point of view on says so much us as people. The Hindu used to make such ads, evoking our sense of questioning those who seem to be in control, but over time, they have stopped asking us to ask questions. For this brand (behind this ad, you would realize it when you see the ad fully anyway), this seems like an unlikely message though if you consider its target audience, it makes perfect sense.

So, this Republic Day (too), continue to relentlessly pose questions that are deemed inconvenient and uncomfortable to those in power. Particularly questions that contradict and puncture the narrative of those in power. That's one way to force accountability because voting (and elections) are not the only form of enforcing accountability. There is something called ongoing accountability too. 

This ad was made in-house, incidentally.

#advertising #marketing #creativity #republicday

This is really interesting and a good illustration of the outsized influence of brand perception in the automotive sector where engineering parity (which happens between the companies under rebadging) takes a backseat to emotional pull (which happens in the minds of consumers)! 

Both companies are largely selling the same set of cars under different badges, but Toyota is capturing more of the value. Invicto Vs. Hycross comparison, in particular, is a telling example: while there's a long waiting list for the latter, the former sold only about 4,000 units and is available immediately despite being the same car... but under Maruti!

This is also textbook case of how brand equity can work against a partnership. Toyota put its badge on Maruti Suzuki cars and gained massively (3.1% to 7.8% market share), while Maruti Suzuki lost ground (49.9% to 40.2%). Toyota essentially got high-volume cars without the massive R&D investment, while Maruti inadvertently created its own competition.

#brand #branding #marketing

"Don't live like this"? The person who found time to cook couldn't find time to clean utensils after cooking? Or, is the cook from another service who wouldn't clean vessels after cooking, leaving it for a follow-up service to do the clean-up? 

Earlier, ads may have spoken about time-poverty to sell the service. As in, "Leave the chores to us". Now, it almost feels like Snabbit is scolding you, and offers a transactional service as solution :) Leftover plates and grime visually cue carelessness or apathy usually, not "I'm overwhelmed and need help". 

But, this is a road-side ad. Regardless of Bengaluru's slow-moving traffic, road-side ads need to sell one thing fast, and one thing only. From that sense, showing dirty, unwashed utensils is the fastest way to dramatize the need. 

A decade ago, dishwash bars may have shown us that someone in the house (who is not a house help) "save time" by using their brand which cleans well, fast. Such ads conclude that if you use their brand, you complete a chore fast and spend more time on what you really want to do (like with the family).

Now, Snabbit throws everything *and* the kitchen sink out of your way to offer it's service.

#advertising #marketing

Shots fired, most definitely! Pepsi's teaser for Super Bowl LX directly shows a Coca-Cola can alongside a Pepsi can and features an animal that has been associated with Coca-Cola for over 30 years - a Polar Bear! The blind test is associated with Pepsi since the 1970s when Pepsi started ads using this 'Pepsi Challenge'.

And the actual ad, which will be launched during the Super Bowl game on February 8, 2026, is directed by Taika Waititi! 

The question is, what is Coca-Cola planning to do about this frontal assault on the biggest advertising night in the US? Will Coca-Cola do something before, during, or after Pepsi releases its final ad? 

Option 1 - Before: Since the teaser is already out, Coca-Cola has a clear runway of 12 days to ambush Pepsi, if they wanted to. 

Option 2 - During: Or, they could go head-to-head and release something online to tackle Pepsi's ad as it releases during the game. 

Option 3 - After: The third option is to see what the Pepsi ad is all about and then calmy respond with a counter, a week later.

All three options would generate insane amount of attention and chatter anyway because people love the cola-wars.

Option 4 - Do nothing.

I'm in 'Team Before'. 

The teaser has a direction that seems mildly predictable - Pepsi Challenge, 'How many people prefer Pepsi in blind taste tests?' as a question, Polar Bear (blind-folded) = something that seems like what we would end up seeing. They are obviously not going to say that more people prefer Coca-Cola. Or they could say that Polar Bears continue to prefer Coca-Cola in blind taste tests, but actual people prefer Pepsi, which could be the sly twist in the 'surprise' the ad is referring to :) 

Can Coca-Cola plan a pre-Pepsi-ad ambush with this information? 

We will wait and watch! :)

#advertising #marketing #creativity #colawars

Being 'authentic' online, in the name of personal branding, is not what you think! Here's what being 'authentic' online actually means, in just 10 points.

1. Personal branding online is not real life in motion. It’s a curated performance, built from real experiences but shared selectively and thoughtfully. 

2. "Being authentic on social media" doesn’t mean showing your entire life. It means choosing what to reveal, intentionally.

3. Selective sharing is not dishonesty. It’s how humans naturally communicate in public spaces.

4. What you post is influenced by the fact that your audience includes strangers, not just friends or peers.

5. Posting online is similar to speaking on a stage. You prepare your thoughts, refine your words, and think about how they’ll land.

6. A polished or thoughtful online presence doesn’t make you fake. It means you care about clarity and impact.

7. Your online self and real-world self don’t need to be identical — they need to be aligned.

8. Share insecurities publicly only if you'd shout them on a busy road—social media is a crowded highway, not intimate friend circles.

9. Oversharing is not a prerequisite for authenticity. Context matters more than emotional exposure.

10. True authenticity shows up when people meet you offline and recognize the same values, behaviour, and intent they saw online.

---

Longer post with context, analogies (everyday home clothing vs. festival clothing), and more: https://lnkd.in/gZcbrhDQ

#personalbrand #personalbranding

Advertising headlines that seem like continuation of one another!!

#advertising #copywriting

Maggi turned a packaging mistake into a product feature? 🤭

Life imitating art? Was Closeup's Diamond Attraction variant inspired by that F.R.I.E.N.D.S episode? 😅

Among my exciting projects presently are 2 favourites - I am helping build India’s Largest Influencer Network and guiding a D2C and B2B cross border ecommerce venture. 

I bring unique perspectives on business setup and sustainability. My hands-on experience allows me to provide strategic insights for sustainable growth. I collaborate with businesses to craft strategies that drive growth and improve ROI. My consulting services are tailored to support startups in navigating the business and marketing landscape thus improving their chances of long-term success. 

Before embarking on my entrepreneurial journey, I gained valuable experience and expertise in advertising, marketing, media, and entertainment, equipping me with a well-rounded understanding of diverse industries.

With more than 30 years of experience spanning Marketing, Advertising, Digital Marketing here’s how I can help businesses and startups: 

* Digital Marketing Strategy: Crafting customised strategies to meet business objectives.
* Business Setup & Sustainability Consulting: Providing strategic inputs to help businesses set a strong foundation for growth.
* Influencer Marketing: Connecting brands with the right influencers to amplify reach.
* UI/UX Improvement: Enhancing user experience for better engagement and conversions.
* Website Navigation & Process Flow Design: Streamlining functionality to boost effectiveness.
* SEO & SEM: Driving traffic, visibility, and performance through search engine strategies.
* Social Media Marketing: Building impactful campaigns that resonate with target audiences.
* Startup Investing: Supporting ventures with strategic investments and mentorship.
* Setting Up Digital Marketing Agencies or SBUs: Guiding businesses to build scalable digital units. 

If you are a business leader for success, reach out and lets discuss about working together.

Sandiip Porwal

Honda just did something it hasn’t done in 44 years.

It changed its logo.

But this isn’t just a design refresh. It’s a strategic move.

For the first time since 1981, Honda has redesigned its iconic ‘H’ mark—and the new logo debuts in 2027 on its next-generation electric vehicles and hybrids.

The transformation is striking - Bolder, more modern presence echoing Honda’s original 1963 emblem

Honda calls this its second founding, a complete reset for the electric era.

The logo will roll out across:
• All future production vehicles (starting with EVs and hybrids)
• Global dealership networks
• Motorsports divisions
• Digital platforms and mobile apps

It’s brand storytelling through geometry.

Did you know 
BMW Removed black outer ring, introduced transparent minimalism in 2020 

Volkswagen Stripped away 3D metallic effects for flat 2D design with deeper blue around the same time 

Renault removed the  silver diamond, replaced with interlocking angular lines and removed brand name entirely. 

And there’s more examples I am sure. Feel free to add in comments. 

Every major rebrand seems to be following the same formula:

• Flat 2D minimalist designs
• Essential elements only
• Digital-native pleasing aesthetics

This is strategic necessity driven by 

The EV Revolution
Digital-First Consumer Behaviourp
Illuminated Badge Technology
Multi-Platform Consistency

This does not look like just a logo change, It’s business transformation. 

What do you think?

In build and invest mode, Open to Ideas, building India’s Largest Influencer Network, Cross Border Commerce. Guiding startups & businesses to grow Faster. Entrepreneur, Digital Strategist, Consultant, Mentor, Investor.

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10-minute grocery delivery. Revolutionary convenience or exploitation at scale?

AAP’s Raghav Chadha just called for a complete BAN on ultra-fast delivery services.

His reason? It’s Modern-day exploitation.

Why?

Behind every 10-minute delivery promise, there’s a delivery partner:

→ Overspeeding through traffic to beat the clock
→ Jumping red lights to avoid penalties
→ Riding through extreme heat, rain, and pollution
→ Working 12-14 hour shifts with no insurance
→ Living under constant fear of poor ratings and ID blocks

One bad rating. One delayed order. One customer complaint. Lost income.

Chadha’s argument: We’ve optimised convenience so aggressively that we transferred all risk and pressure onto the most vulnerable link in the chain.

His appeal to the government :

• Ban 10-minute deliveries – Stop the time-pressure arms race
• Legal protection for gig workers – Basic employment rights, not contractor loopholes
• Fair wages and safety standards – Insurance, hazard pay, reasonable work hours

Is shaving 20 minutes off a grocery run worth someone risking their life?

Would we still use these platforms if delivery took 45 minutes instead of 10?

This isn’t just about #Blinkit, #Zepto, or #Swiggy Instamart.

It’s about how this entire business model is structured around:
→ Externalising risk onto individuals who have no say
→ Gamifying work through ratings and penalties 

The Counter-Argument

Supporters will say:
• Gig work provides income to millions who would otherwise be unemployed
• Customers demand speed and platforms are just responding to market need
• Regulation will kill innovation and increase costs

All are fair points, but can’t we build profitable businesses and ensure that  workers are treated fairly?

If this is the reality we know of then we need to stop pretending the current model is sustainable or ethical.

What’s your view?

Has The Great Digital Rebellion Begun 

Gen Z spends over 6 hours daily staring at screens.

Research says 57% people admit being  phone addicts.

But something unexpected is happening in 2025.

While Big Tech keeps pushing “smarter” phones with more features, more apps, and more AI, a counter-movement is quietly exploding:

→ Dumb phone sales hit 3 million + units in the US
→ Global feature phone market reached 210 million devices worth $3.2 billion
→ *28% of Gen Z are now interested in acquiring dumb phones
→ Google searches for these phones is up consistently since 2020
→ #BringBackFlipPhones has 59.8 million views on TikTok

And it’s not just phones.

The e-ink device market is surging:
→ E-ink tablet market growing at 7.8% CAGR, expected to hit $4.2 billion by 2033
→ E-reader market projected to hit $11.29 billion by 2030 (6.31% CAGR)
→ Handwritten e-ink tablets seeing explosive 18.5% CAGR growth

Is it nostalgia or technophobia? 
Or it’s infinite scroll fatigue? 

People are realizing:
• Constant notifications aren’t making us more productivethey’re destroying focus
• Social media algorithms aren’t connecting us, they’re addicting us
• Just one more scroll has turned into 4+ hours of lost time daily
• Our devices were supposed to serve us instead, we’re serving them

Is the candy-bar phone and e-ink movement is the market sending a signal? We want technology that empowers us, not enslaves us.

When business revenue depends on maximizing screen time, you optimize for addiction, not wellbeing.

The result?
→ Mental health crisis among young adults
→ Productivity collapse masked as “multitasking”
→ Relationships mediated through screens instead of lived in person
→ Attention spans shredded to TikTok-length fragments

Where This Goes Next? 

I don’t think smartphones are going away. But I do think we will soon enter a hybrid era 

→ Professionals carrying both a smartphone and a dumb phone
→ E-ink devices replacing tablets for focused work
→ “Digital Cleansing” practices becoming mainstream
→ Features like Screen Time becoming actual product differentiators, not afterthoughts

The rebellion is about demanding technology that respects us. 

Could you realistically use a dumb phone as your primary device? Or And if the answer is “I’d be lost without it”—is that a sign of how valuable our smartphones are, or how trapped we’ve become?

AI Helmet to the rescue !!  

Bengaluru-based engineer, Pankaj Tanwar, has developed an Al-powered helmet designed to help traffic police catch violations more efficiently.

The helmet is fitted with a small camera and Al software that monitors traffic in real time. It can detect common violations such as riding without a helmet, signal jumping, wrong-side driving, and other unsafe practices on the road.

When a violation is detected, the system automatically records visual evidence along with the time and location, and sends it directly to traffic authorities. The idea is to reduce manual enforcement, improve accountability, and make traffic monitoring smarter without adding more checkpoints or manpower.

Apple just made its biggest Al move yet.

Apple announced a multi year partnership with Google to power upcoming Al features, including a new version of Siri expected later this year. Google's Gemini models and cloud systems will plug directly into Apple's Foundation Models plan.

This is not a surface level tweak. Apple says it reviewed several paths and chose #Google because the tech gave it the strongest base for next phase Al features. That lines up with reports from last summer that talks were already underway.

The timing is hard to ignore. Google's market value recently passed Apple's for the first time since 2019, putting pressure on Apple to move faster. This deal could shape how Apple competes in the next era of platform battles.

Do you think this helps #Apple catch up in Al, or makes it more dependent

Deepinder Goyal just stepped down as CEO of Eternal. Right after posting ₹102 crore profit which is a 73% jump YoY.

At the peak. Why? 

Here’s what he said:

“Albi’s ability to execute far exceeds mine.”

That coming from someone who has already succeeded not failed! 

Most people spend careers trying to be irreplaceable. Goyal just admitted someone else is better at running his company, and gave him the keys. 

This is self-awareness most founders never reach. Yup, it’s very difficult. 

The lesson

Blinkit went from acquisition to breakeven under Albinder. He built the team, the culture, the supply chain, the rhythm.

Goyal saw the math - Eternal needs an specialist operator now. So he stepped aside.

This is what mature leadership is all about. 

→ Recognizing when the company needs different skills than your
→ Stepping down at the top, not after the crisis

Knowing which one you are and when to step aside is the difference between legends and cautionary tales.

What do you think? 

And if that wasn’t enough Goyal gave up his unvested ESOPs (about a 1000 cr worth). He has put them back in the pool for future leaders.

#leadership #entrepreneur

Ola Uber unique rivalry - was it to save costs and increase consumer discounts 😜. 

So apparently, the two rival cab companies decided to flex (😆) at Pune Airport. Side by side. Same copy. Word for word. Different logos.

Imagine standing there, exhausted from your flight, desperately waiting for your ride, and you see this communication. 

A marketer’s nightmare and a competitor’s fantasy. 

Context is king (and also a comedian)
The best part? These were not just on any empty street, they were at an airport where lots of people are already frustrated about delayed rides.

The outdoor media person needs a raise (or therapy)
They created accidental viral content. That should be worth something, right?

The real winner is tie airport. Free entertainment and free PR. 

Also, if anyone has spotted this or similar please share your experience. Drop your stories below. 😅

#marketing #branding #ooh #outdoormedia #advertising

This Indian startup just paid people 1 lakh… for doing skincare. Don’t believe it?

Deconstruct, a science-backed skincare brand launched something called the “Skincare Internship”. it is exactly what it sounds like.

The deal:
	•	₹1 lakh stipend
	•	30-60 day remote program
	•	no prior skincare knowledge needed
	•	Open to anyone 18+
	•	Work from home (or your bathroom mirror) 😜

Here’s what makes this brilliant:

1. They treating skincare like a skill worth investing in 
Most brands want you to buy products. Deconstruct is literally paying people to use them and learn. They provide personalized routines, dermatologist consultations, and 24/7 skincare coaches. Its product education meets experiential marketing.

2. Breaking the gender barrier
50% of spots are reserved for male participants. The first season saw nearly equal participation (45% men, 55% women). In an industry that’s traditionally marketed only to women, this is powerful : skincare is for anyone with skin. 😜

3. The selection process is refreshingly honest
No fancy resumes. No corporate jargon. They want you to share your skincare journey mistakes, confusion, and all—on LinkedIn or Instagram. Authenticity over perfection.

4. It’s marketing genius disguised as opportunity
Season 1 generated 1.8 lakh applications and 16.7 crore digital impressions. The six winners were featured on billboards in their hometowns. User-generated content, brand awareness, and product testing—all in one move.

Why this matters beyond skincare:

This isn’t just about selling moisturizers. It’s about redefining internships in an age where traditional roles feel increasingly outdated. If a skincare brand can create a paid internship that’s inclusive, beginner-friendly, and genuinely valuable, what’s stopping other industries? 

Imagine:
→ Fitness brands paying people to build workout habits
→ Nutrition companies funding meal experiments
→ Mental health apps sponsoring meditation journeys

The possibilities are endless when you stop thinking like a seller and start thinking like an educator.

Do you think more brands should invest in “learning internships” like this, or is it just clever marketing?

So Blinkit delivers an ambulance in 10 minutes.

The government’s 108 service? Sometimes 45 minutes. Sometimes never.

Should we see that as a startup win or a govt system that’s a failure? 

Someone says, Why can a grocery delivery app solve emergency response faster than the government?

The answer  - our  emergency crisis isn’t medical. It’s operational.

We have hospitals and it’s a fast growing industry. We have ambulances this too has seen improvement. We have paramedics too but what we don’t have is a system that treats 10-minute response as non-negotiable.

So should we cheer when a private company does what should’ve been baseline public infrastructure? 

“Wow, Blinkit delivered an ambulance in 10 minutes!” should sound absurd—l because it should already be the standard everywhere, isn’t it?! 

If Blinkit can mobilize 12 ambulances with paramedics, equipment, and real-time tracking using the same dark-store logistics they built for groceries

Why can’t the state do this at scale?

Emergency response shouldn’t be a premium service. 

What do you think?

Can the best innovation be fixing what everyone stopped complaining about.
Yes ! 

Fast-food has had the same ketchup problem for decades: torn sachets, spilled cups, sauce-covered fries before the first bite.

And who else but the sauce giant Heinz to solve the saucy problem. And they did it by redesigning the fries box to include a built-in dipping pocket.

The Heinz Dipper is a fries box with a built-in ketchup pocket. M wondering why didn’t #mcdonalds or #burgerking do it. What do you think 

Ohh it’s not just a problem someone at Heinz saw, there is data behind it. 70% of people have spilled ketchup while dipping on-the-go. 80% have considered skipping condiments entirely because of messy packaging.

What did #heinz do
→ Removed friction from an everyday habit
→ Made ketchup easier to use on-the-go
→ Quietly reinforced itself as the default fries companion. 

They didn’t you any breakthrough technology, they just found a better way to use what people already love.

This is what good innovation looks like isn’t it! solving real problems people stopped complaining about.

Is there a small everyday frustration in your industry that everyone just… lives with? Maybe we can solve it together. 

Let me know 👇

japan just made the internet look...
prehistoric

imagine downloading the entire netflix library in 1 second. japan's new optical-fiber tech hit 1.02 petabits per second, which is 16 million times faster than india's average speed. 

researchers at nict + sumitomo electric used a 19-core fibre and sent data across 1,808 km - proving this insane speed can run on cables the same size we use today. this is literally the future arriving early.

if you think your wifi is fast... japan basically said "hold my ramen" 🤣 

source: ndtv / nict report

#technology #japan #internet #innovation #futuretech

A 20,000 mAh smartphone battery!!!
today’s flagship phones have 5000-7000 mAh batteries.

Imagine days of battery life, not hours.

But I am wondering, do we at mass scale actually want phones that last a week on a single charge?

Or will this lead to more doom-scrolling since charging every night would not be required. 

Look at how we have evolved 

• Cars got more fuel-efficient → we started driving more
• Led bulbs use less energy → many  don’t worry about keeping more lights on or adding more lights 
• Data plans got cheaper → we can’t stop watching endlessly, isn’t it? 

Basically more the efficiency 
more the consumption.

So when #Samsung or #Apple, or whoever finally cracks battery life will we finally be free from charging anxiety OR consumption will increase to meet new battery capacity keeping the addicted hooked to screens even longer and maybe even add more to the ilk ?

Technology solves a problem and creates new ones. 20,000 mAh might change everything about smartphones but will it change us. 

If your phone lasted 5 days, would you use it less?

Why your "Perfect Vision" maybe killing your startup?
I just came upon this Michael Siebel video again and thought I must share it. He destroys the most dangerous myth in startup culture

Here is what's actually happening:
Somewhere right now, a founder is building their "full vision" thinking- “Of course the MVP won't work, I need 3 years and $10M to build the real thing."
That founder will fail.
Why? Because they're optimising for the wrong thing.

Michael Siebel's advice from Y Combinator is probably not new for many founders but most ignore. 

1. Launch something bad quickly Not "launch when ready." Launch Fast.
2. Get ANY initial customers, not your ideal customer profile. Not 1,000 users. Get ONE person to use your product and extract value.
3. Talk to your users and get feedback. This is where it gets uncomfortable. Because the feedback will conflict with your beautiful vision. Ha ha ha - I love this. 
4. Iterate (don't pivot). And here's the distinction:
→ Pivoting = "My screwdriver doesn't work for mechanics, maybe I can use it for cooking" → Iterating = "My screwdriver doesn't work for mechanics, let me fix the screwdriver"

The Rule That Changes Everything
"Hold the problem tightly. Hold the customer tightly. Hold the solution loosely."

most founders do the opposite:
Fall in love with their solution
Stay flexible on the problem
Keep switching customer segments
That's backwards. Can you see it that way? 

Your customer has a real problem. If your solution doesn’t solve it, the solution is broken - not the customer, not the problem.
FIX THE SOLUTION.

Why This Matters
I have seen this pattern
The winners launched incomplete products and iterated based on real user feedback.
The losers spent months (or years) building their "full vision" - only to discover nobody wanted it.

The "full vision thing" in your head? Keep it flexible. It's probably wrong anyway.
Your users will show you what they actually need - but only if you launch fast enough to learn from them.

Launch bad. Launch fast. Then fix what’s broken based on real feedback.

What is the biggest barrier stopping you from launching your MVP right now? Drop it in the comments - let's solve it together.

A Beatle. A Hindu deity. And one of the most talked-about hypercars at Goodwood 2025.

This is the unexpected story behind Lanzante’s viral moment.

The Logo That Stopped Everyone

When Lanzante unveiled the 95-59 hypercar at Goodwood Festival of Speed, it wasn’t just the engineering that turned heads.

It was the crest - Lord Ganesha. Unmistakable, bold, and completely unexpected on a British hypercar.

Within hours, it was everywhere. social feeds, automotive forums, design blogs.

Why Ganesha on a hypercar?

The answer

Paul Lanzante, founder of this storied British automotive house, was close friends with George Harrison of The Beatles. Harrison, deeply spiritual and drawn to Hindu philosophy, suggested the symbol.

His reasoning? Ganesha represents the removal of obstacles, new beginnings, and wisdom.

For a company built on pushing engineering limits and motorsport victories, Harrison saw a perfect alignment. 

Paul Lanzante agreed. The logo has remained ever since.

What the 95-59 Actually Represents

The name itself is a tribute:
→ 95 = 1995, the year Lanzante won Le Mans outright
→ 59 = The car number of the victorious McLaren F1 GTR

That win remains one of motorsport’s greatest underdog stories. A private team beating factory expertise at the world’s most demanding race.

Why This Matters Beyond Cars

Lanzante’s Ganesha logo is a masterclass in authentic branding:

• Cultural fusion done right – Eastern spirituality meeting Western engineering without appropriation
• Meaning before aesthetics – The symbol represents core values, not just visual appeal
• Personal conviction – Harrison’s suggestion wasn’t marketing strategy; it was genuine belief
• Staying power – Adopted in the 1970s, still resonating in 2025

In an era of sanitised corporate identities, Lanzante carries a logo with real philosophy embedded in it.

Most brands strip meaning for mass appeal. Lanzante did the opposite and went viral because of it.

The Lesson

Authenticity doesn’t come from focus groups. It comes from conviction.

#Lanzante didn’t choose #Ganesha because it tested well. They chose it because it meant something to the people building the company.

And 50 years later, that choice is driving global conversations. #logo

Have you come across brands with unconventional symbols that carry genuine meaning?

Curious to hear perspectives.

#logodesign #motorsports #design #creative

India-US HOT trade deal. Great news sure. but is it? 
I got some questions. I am sure most of you do too. Anyone got answers??

1. On India’s commitment to buy $500 billion in US goods
Trump claimed that “The Prime Minister also committed to “BUY AMERICAN,” at a much higher level, in addition to over $500 BILLION DOLLARS of U.S. Energy, Technology, Agricultural, Coal, and many other products.” 

What is the timeline for these $500 billion purchases? And how does this help us?

2. On 0% tariff on US goods in India - wow!!

Trump’s post said that while the US was reducing “reciprocal” tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, India had agreed to “move forward” and reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers on US goods in India to 0%. 

If we have agreed to such a demand, why is the US still calling its 18% tariff rate “reciprocal”? 

What is the timeline of this commitment? Across which sectors? 

4. On the competitiveness of Indian goods

It’s a big drop when compared to the 50% tariff, but 
Pakistan has a rate of 19%, Bangladesh and Vietnam 20%, and China 34%. While India’s new 18% rate is lower than what the others have got, India’s neighbours and some of its Asian rivals also receive a special concession of about 5%, which the U.S. withdrew from India. 

How's that really competitive? 

Credits for insights to The Wire, The Hindu, and Mint.

McDonalds is truly vegetarian only in India for India. 

When it comes to global fast-food brands, McDonald's stands out not only for its scale but also for its ability to adapt to local cultures. With more than 40,000 restaurants across 119 countries, the chain is famous for reshaping its menu to suit regional tastes - from Japan's Teriyaki Burger to India's McSpicy Paneer. Nowhere is this localisation more striking. India is the only country in the world where McDonald's operates fully vegetarian restaurants.

India has over 500 McDonald's outlets, many of which already offer extensive vegetarian options.

However, four locations are completely meat-free, with no non-vegetarian items served or prepared in their kitchens. These unique outlets were established out of respect for religious beliefs in regions where vegetarianism is strongly observed or where non-vegetarian food is restricted.

Three of the four vegetarian-only McDonald's restaurants are located near major pilgrimage destinations, catering to devotees who follow strict dietary practices.

The world's first fully vegetarian McDonald's is in Kurukshetra, Haryana, where the menu was changed to comply with local regulations. Another outlet in Amritsar, Punjab, sits just 200 metres from the Golden Temple and has been vegetarian since its opening in 2013. The remaining two outlets, both launched in 2023, are located along the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in Jammu and Kashmir one at Tarakote Marg and the other at Ardhkuwari. These restaurants serve only vegetarian food prepared without onion or garlic, aligning with religious customs.

Then I am wondering why we don’t get vegetarian options in tourist destinations where Indian’s frequent - like south east Asia for example. 

What about a bulk pre-order when a group of going to another country?

After 20+ years, Thums Up got a makeover.

Apna iconic "toofani" cola brand just unveiled a refreshed visual identity, sharper, bolder, with a modernised thumb that feels optimised for digital screens.

This is the brand's fourth logo refresh since 1977. 

what I find interesting is that Thums Up isn't the only brand reinventing itself.

So why is everyone rebranding right now?

1. Digital-first necessity
2. To connect with Gen Z and evolving audiences
3. Signalling Strategic pivots
4. Going minimalistic to win. it's the aesthetic of today.

Well, this can go against the plan too. So what makes a rebrand smart is balance. IN this case, they retained their heritage thumb mark, but sharpened it for today's audiences. It's evolutionary, not revolutionary. What do you think?

Remember what happened with Jaguar's rebrand - it sparked outrage for straying too far from its identity. The backlash was so intense that positive brand perception dropped from 23.1% to 15.3%, and Elon Musk joined in mocking the rebrand, too. 

Rebranding is not about chasing trends. It's about staying true to your core while evolving to meet your audience where they are today.

If your brand feels dated, your logo doesn't work digitally, or your audience has shifted, maybe this is your year to rebrand too.

Do you like the new look? 
Which recent rebrand do you think missed the mark?



#thumsup #branding #brandidentity #marketing #logodesign #brandstrategy

How to turn a random guy into a marketing masterclass?

A man perched awkwardly high at the station, completely lost in a phone call. Fevicol spotted it, posted it, and captioned: Laila dur, majnu majboor!

Just pure, effortless brand storytelling that made everyone smile and instantly get the “forever bond of love”

This is what great marketing is. 

Fevicol has been doing this for decades, turning everyday life into brand folklore. From the “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” campaign to the bus ad with people hanging off doors, they’ve mastered the art of showcasing their USP without shouting loud. 

While most brands are busy explaining what they do, Fevicol just is part of life. 

That is the difference between advertising and becoming part of the culture.

What’s your favorite Fevicol moment? Drop it below. 👇

#fevicol #marketing #brandstorytelling #branding

Can a beverage brand successfully sell beauty products? Coke is ready to give it a shot. 

Coca-Cola just entered the beauty industry. 💄

The iconic soda brand has partnered with Brazilian beauty creator Bruna Tavares to launch makeup collections—eyeshadow palettes, lip glosses, highlighters, even mascara. All drenched in Coke’s signature red-and-white aesthetic. I for one want to see the packing and packaging design on this one. 

Coca-Cola has become a cultural symbol in its own way. And when trust and familiarity are already established, brands can experiment beyond their original domain. 

That seems to be among the reasons for Coca-Cola’s to attempt entry into the super-growth beauty category and become part of daily life. 

Brand extensions can be game-changers or disasters. Read somewhere - The line between genius and catastrophe is razor-thin.

Harley-Davidson Perfumes comes to mind and then there Virgin from music to airlines to what not. 

will Coca-Cola’s beauty move work? 
Y
1. They are partnering with beauty influencers who are brands themselves 
2. They’re tapping into nostalgia and identity - they know strong branding has a compounding effect over time.

Do you think Coca-Cola’s beauty line will succeed ?👇

#branding #brandidentity #cocacola #marketing #business

Before it’s too late…Sakht launda has decided to take a break. 

zakir khan  “the sakht launda” with a soft romantic heart announced a 3-5 year break from comedy. At what I feel is the peak of his career. 

I have been in the situation. it’s not because he’s tired of making people laugh, it’s because his body is tired of the struggle to keep him alive. 

There is a price most of us unknowingly pay while chasing success. 

In this case a decade of touring, early morning flights, sleepless nights, no fixed meal times, jet lag and that he was unwell but kept performing anyway.

Zakir’s words, “Before it’s too late, I should take the break.” This line will haunt every creator, founder, and professional grinding through burnout right now.

Zakir is doing what many couldn’t, stepping back before it’s too late. Smart move I would say. 

When your body is your instrument, whether you are a comedian, entrepreneur, or founder, you don’t get unlimited takes.

The silent killers, 
→ Chronic sleep deprivation
→ Irregular meals / no fixed schedule
→  constant performance pressure
→ No time for exercise or recovery
→ Stress compounding for years

Result? 
Early heart attacks. depression. Severe burnout.

Your body doesn’t negotiate when you have pushed too far, so

→ Step back before you break
→ Heal before the damage is permanent
→ Return when you’re ready—not when others expect you to

Because the greatest comeback is the one you’re alive to make.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Kyon aage kuch bada hone wala hai !!!

#burnout #fitness #health #comeback #humour #humor #standup

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