LinkedIn Pinpoint #811 Answer for Monday, July 20, 2026

Deep Clue Analysis

Puma

The Meaning of the Clue: Puma is a major German multinational company that is world-renowned for designing and manufacturing high-performance athletic and casual footwear, as well as apparel and accessories.

New Balance

The Meaning of the Clue: New Balance is an iconic American sports footwear and apparel brand that originally started as an arch support company, now famous for its comfortable running shoes and lifestyle sneakers.

Asics

The Meaning of the Clue: Asics is a Japanese multinational corporation specializing in sports equipment, particularly known for its technologically advanced running shoes designed for professional athletes and enthusiasts.

Adidas

The Meaning of the Clue: Adidas is a massive German corporation and the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, instantly recognizable by its three-stripe logo and its deep roots in soccer and street culture footwear.

Nike

The Meaning of the Clue: Nike is the world's leading designer and marketer of athletic footwear and equipment, a global powerhouse identified by its "Swoosh" logo and "Just Do It" slogan.

How we solved it based on the clues

When I first saw the word "Puma," my brain went in two different directions. Part of me thought about the animal—the mountain lion—but since this is Pinpoint, I knew it was likely a brand. I initially speculated that the category might be "Predatory Animals" or perhaps "German Companies." I didn't want to jump the gun too early, so I waited for more information.

Then "New Balance" popped up as the second clue. This immediately killed the animal theory. Now I was looking at two very distinct brands. My first guess was actually just "Clothing Brands." It seemed logical, but it felt a little too broad for a game that usually looks for a more specific connection. I held back on submitting because "New Balance" is so specifically associated with footwear.

Once "Asics" appeared, the picture became much clearer. Asics isn't really a "general" clothing brand in the way others are; they are a powerhouse in the running world. At this point, I was leaning heavily toward "Sneakers" or "Running Shoes." However, Puma and Adidas have a huge presence in soccer and lifestyle fashion, so I needed to be careful with the wording.

"Adidas" arriving as the fourth clue was the "aha!" moment. I realized that while these companies all make shirts and hats, their core identity and the reason they are billion-dollar giants is their footwear. I thought about "Sports Brands," but I felt like the game wanted something more precise.

Finally, "Nike" was the cherry on top. It’s the biggest shoe company on the planet. By looking at the common thread across all five—from the Japanese engineering of Asics to the German heritage of Adidas and Puma—the answer was staring me in the face. They aren't just companies; they are the definitive "Athletic shoe brands" that dominate the global market.

Lessons Learned from this pinpoint

One of the biggest takeaways from this puzzle is the importance of narrowing down from a broad category to a specific one. While "Sports Brands" is technically true, Pinpoint often rewards the player for identifying the specific product that links the entities. In this case, shoes are the primary product for all five.

Another lesson is to pay attention to geographical diversity. When you see brands from Germany (Adidas/Puma), Japan (Asics), and the US (Nike/New Balance), you know the connection isn't location-based. It forces you to look at the industry sector instead of the origin of the company.

Finally, this puzzle teaches us to look for the "specialty" of the brands. While all these companies sell t-shirts, you wouldn't necessarily list Asics if the category was "Fashion Labels." The inclusion of Asics specifically points toward performance gear, which helps you move away from general fashion and toward athletic-specific categories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Could the answer have been "Sneaker Brands" instead of "Athletic shoe brands"?
A: While "Sneakers" is a common term, "Athletic shoe brands" is a more formal and inclusive category that covers performance gear like track spikes and soccer cleats, which all these brands produce alongside casual sneakers.

Q: Why was Puma listed first instead of a bigger brand like Nike?
A: LinkedIn Pinpoint often orders clues from most ambiguous to most obvious. "Puma" could be an animal or a brand, whereas "Nike" is almost exclusively associated with the brand, making it a better "final" clue to confirm the player's suspicions.

Q: Is there a specific reason Asics was included over a brand like Reebok?
A: Asics provides a great middle-ground clue because it is highly specialized in footwear. While Reebok is also a shoe brand, Asics has a very distinct reputation for technical running gear that helps solidify the "Athletic" part of the answer.

Q: Do all these brands belong to the same parent company?
A: No, they are all independent competitors. This is a common theme in Pinpoint where the connection is a shared industry or product type rather than a corporate ownership link.

Q: What is the best strategy when you see a list of famous brands?
A: The best strategy is to identify the "hero product" for each. If every brand on the list is famous for the same specific item—like shoes, in this case—that item is almost certainly the key to the answer.