CEO/Co-Founder @WhatAreThose!?
Introduction
Embodying innovation and leadership, Soumya Pattanayak has emerged as a trailblazing technologist in the realm of cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurial ventures. As the CEO and Co-Founder of WhatAreThose!?, a pioneering venture revolutionizing sneaker culture through technology, Soumya has crafted a remarkable trajectory marked by insightful leadership, profound technical expertise, and a passion for empowering communities.
Key Takeaways
- Innovation Beyond Boundaries: Soumya’s relentless pursuit of innovation has transcended industry boundaries, driving transformative change.
- Empowerment Through Technology: His ventures emphasize community empowerment through cutting-edge technological solutions.
- Leadership and Technical Acumen: Soumya seamlessly blends visionary leadership with deep technical expertise, exemplifying a modern tech luminary.
Visionary Leadership at WhatAreThose!?
Soumya spearheads WhatAreThose!?, an innovative enterprise leveraging deep learning and AI to revolutionize the sneaker retail landscape. Under his leadership, a team of three co-founders, including himself, envisioned and developed a mobile sneaker recognition application, akin to Google Lens. This groundbreaking app, utilizing a Custom Neural Network on an AWS Cloud Instance, revolutionizes sneaker recognition. By simply snapping a picture, users unlock information about the shoe along with direct links to purchase, fostering a vibrant community of sneakerheads and fashion enthusiasts.
Notably, their app boasts an impressive 90% accuracy rate in recognizing over 100,000 popular sneakers. Since its launch in February 2023, the app has garnered over 800 users, showcasing remarkable scalability and a keen resonance with the market’s demands. Soumya’s astute validation of product-market fit during development, coupled with meticulous attention to legal aspects, ensured a secure and user-centric plat
Download WhatAreThose!? on iOS
Download WhatAreThose!? on Android
Pioneering Tech Contributions at Amazon and The Washington Post
Prior to his entrepreneurial journey, Soumya showcased his technical prowess at industry giants like Amazon and The Washington Post. His tenure as a Software Engineer at Amazon Music and The Washington Post exemplifies his knack for innovation and problem-solving. At The Washington Post, Soumya led a team in designing and implementing systems, APIs, and microservices, optimizing the transfer and parsing of subscription data. His leadership enabled the development of an iOS app streamlining delivery agents’ processes, ensuring compatibility across devices. Additionally, he prototyped a machine learning chatbot, exhibiting an 80% accuracy in recognizing user intents.
Academic Journey and Early Contributions
Soumya’s academic foundation from the University of Maryland in Computer Science laid the groundwork for his exceptional career. His internships at TD Ameritrade and the National Eye Institute (NEI) showcased his dedication to optimizing data transfer, app development, and front-end enhancements.
Leadership Lessons
- Visionary Leadership: Foster a vision that inspires and leads teams toward transformative goals.
- Validation and Adaptation: Validate product-market fit meticulously and adapt swiftly to market demands.
- Empowerment Through Innovation: Harness technology to empower communities and redefine industries.
- Attention to Legal and Security Aspects: Prioritize legal and security aspects to build user trust.
- Continuous Learning: Embrace a culture of continuous learning and exploration to drive innovation.
Editorial Notes
Soumya Pattanayak’s journey epitomizes the fusion of technical acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and a drive to empower communities. His vision and contributions continue to redefine industry standards, making him a beacon of inspiration for aspiring technologists and entrepreneurs alike.
