Implementing Image Search for a Startup in Miami

Karen Beckers is a data scientist at Squadra Machine Learning Company. In this article, we will explore one of her ongoing projects for a startup located in the United States.

This U.S. startup aspires to create the foremost brand search engine that changes how consumers look for products. Yet, several obstacles must be tackled before the Miami startup’s website can launch. “We have been engaged in this project since July,” Karen shares. She is collaborating with fellow data scientists Jelmer Wind and Dennis Trommelen at Squadra MLC. The startup requested a search engine focused less on product categories and more on individual items. Thus, when someone inputs ‘summer dress with flowers for a sunny day’ into the search bar, the goal is to provide results for exactly such dresses. Karen elaborates: “We are developing a search feature designed to find products based on images.” This allows users to discover specific items by their image traits, which is the aspect of the project Karen is concentrating on.

“I’m working on this project alongside Jelmer and Dennis, but we don’t actually code together. Our teamwork involves brainstorming and discussing project complexities, as it’s quite intricate.” She admits that there are times she feels stuck and unsure of her next steps. In such moments, she values the collaborative discussions, which often lead to new insights. “That’s when fresh ideas surface.”

For projects like this one, she mentions, “we hold weekly meetings with the startup’s representative.” During these sessions, they review completed tasks and those yet to be addressed with the client. These meetings not only facilitate valuable feedback but also keep the client updated on the project’s progression. She adds: “We also had discussions with people from San Francisco, Australia, and the UK. I found these interactions insightful as they shared valuable knowledge and intriguing stories.”

Despite the challenges and pressure that come with the project, Karen enjoys the challenge and believes it’s a genuinely exciting concept to work on.

If you’re interested in participating in projects like this, check out our career opportunities for more information.