Ask Sunny Soin and Bojan Ridjosic, both MBA ’13, about the power of a friendship and they can point to their business, eQuizzle.
If it wasn’t for the connection they made during the Ivey MBA program and the bond they formed due to their mutual love of entrepreneurship, their business wouldn’t exist.
And with eQuizzle they hope to help others form similar friendships.
EQuizzle is an employee engagement platform for med-large enterprises to help them connect employees across siloed departments. The tool helps people break the ice with others using a series of questions. The idea is based on a scientifically-validated process.
The questions, ranging from fun ones to those that are more serious and probing, help users get to know the person on the other side, even without meeting face to face. Users are paired together randomly and exchange a series of specialized questions. They are unable to see each other. However, like pieces of a puzzle coming together, parts of a photo of each individual are gradually revealed as the questions are answered.
“It brings people together and allows them to make deeper social connections,” said Soin.
Launched in April, Soin and Ridjosic are implementing the product in businesses to help people build connections in the workplace. Research conducted by Gallup revealed people with friends at work are more engaged and productive, and more likely to stay on with their organization.
Students in the Ivey MBA Class of 2014 are also currently using eQuizzle to help make friends.
Amit Jethani, a student in the class, has tried out eQuizzle and said the concept is interesting.
“EQuizzle is a good way to reduce that first step in meeting people. I can see it being very valuable in corporations,” he said.
EQuizzle currently operates out of MaRS Commons in Toronto, which is a business incubator for entrepreneurs in the IT, communications and entertainment industries. Soin and Ridjosic won a business competition at Ivey for their spot at MaRS.
For more on eQuizzle, please see www.equizzle.com.
