About two-and-a-half months ago, Bengaluru-based health and fitness startup Healthify (formerly HealthifyMe) introduced Ria 2.0, a multimodal generative AI-powered virtual health coach with multilingual conversational capabilities. It gives you customised diet goals by considering your schedules, meals (captured via photos), blood sugar levels, activity, and dietary preferences. 

According to OpenAI’s recently published blog post, since introducing AI in its coaching and tracking components, Healthify has already helped users lose an aggregate of over 25 million pounds with OpenAI’s API. 

Led by CEO Tushar Vashisht, the Khosla Ventures-backed company has partnered with food commerce platform Swiggy to allow users to order meals according to Ria’s smart recommendations. However, the company’s experimentation with AI began in 2018 when it first developed the pilot version of Ria. 

Now, to strengthen its products, Healthify is hiring for four roles: senior AI engineer, machine learning engineer, business analyst, and senior business analyst. 

“Our data science team plays a central role, having access to both business and product insights. We value individuals who demonstrate hunger and ownership, are willing to go beyond their roles and contribute to the broader organisational goals,” Anjan Bhojarajan, chief business officer, told AIM in a recent conversation.

Inside Healthify’s AI and Analytics Team 

Behind the scenes of the AI projects is Healthify’s lean 30-member tech team. It also has a team of 15 analysts/data scientists who collaborate closely with the seven product managers, half of whom focus on AI products. 

Serving over 700 health coaches and approximately 240,000 clients globally, besides Ria, the startup came up with Coach CoPilot in September 2023. Built on OpenAI’s GPT models, the system combines AI with human coaching. On the other hand, Ria has integrated an array of fine-tuned models, including the GPT 3.5 and the GPT-4 Turbo.

The team uses solution models based on diverse statistical models, including AWS, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and open-source options. Over time, they assess three main factors: accuracy, reliability, and cost.

Alongside building on other models, the 12-year-old company focuses on creating proprietary models, particularly in correlation analysis. “For instance, if a user reports losing 1% body fat in a week, our system analyses factors like hydration levels, diet, and more to provide accurate correlations. These decisions are made internally, and our proprietary models primarily drive the final output,” Bhojarajan added. 

Healthify’s data science and engineering teams have deployed more generic systems, such as self-evaluation mechanisms, to assess outputs comprehensively. Additionally, the platform heavily uses internal auditing tools like Claude, Whisper, and others for voice-to-text functionalities.

Snap leverages an ensemble of proprietary models with GPT-4 Vision to find user-specific contexts while safeguarding data privacy. 

Interview Process

The interview process for data science roles typically involves two rounds of tasks, focusing on real-world problems and evaluating the candidate’s approach to problem-solving. The team looks for candidates who can proficiently explore and analyse data, especially in scenarios where outputs are non-deterministic. The final decision is made considering the technical skills and candidate’s alignment with the company’s culture and values. 

The hiring process emphasises screening for high energy, critical thinking, willingness to learn, and adaptability. Given AI’s growing functions, Healthify is looking for candidates with strong problem-solving skills instead of those solely focused on tool proficiency.

“We actively encourage candidates with diverse aspirations, whether they pursue product management or start their own venture in the future,” he added.

Expectations

• Ownership: Healthify prioritises a culture of ownership, granting autonomy and responsibility to every team member. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, ensuring support and collective decision-making across various initiatives.
• Moreover, you can anticipate tangible outcomes from your efforts. “This level of ownership extends beyond individual tasks; you’ll be at the forefront of decision-making, influencing everything from product development to customer engagement strategies,” Bhojarajan added.
• Focus on L&D: The company also promotes continuous learning and development, offering opportunities to tackle challenges across different business domains, such as sales, marketing, and service optimisation. 
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Every team member can expect unrestricted access to safe data. “While we may have automated processes in place, we never compromise on your ability to access the numbers needed to drive informed decision-making,” he explained. 

Mistakes to Avoid

• Lack of Clarity: According to Bhojarajan, while having ambitious goals is commendable, it’s also important to articulate a clear vision for your future and demonstrate a genuine passion for the path you’re pursuing during interviews. 
• No Background Research: Candidates frequently falter in understanding of the company and its products due to a lack of research. Merely expressing interest in the role is insufficient; a profound understanding of the firm’s business model, products, and market landscape is crucial.

Work Culture

The work culture is collaborative, nurturing, and conducive to innovation. Unlike cut-throat environments, we emphasise support and collaboration, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to succeed. At Healthify, employees are empowered to innovate and drive business impact, with recognition for those who excel. This ethos of innovation spans all teams, fostering growth and creativity company-wide.

Besides offering competitive salary packages, insurance, industry-standard maternity leave policies and wellness initiatives, the management ensures work-life balance, offering ample vacation time and support for travel.

Bhojarajan added, “In terms of work arrangements, while we don’t enforce strict office requirements, we’ve observed that in-office collaboration often leads to higher impact. However, we prioritise results and delivery above all else, allowing flexibility for individuals to choose their work environment based on their needs.” 

Another aspect of the company culture is its strong camaraderie among team members, whether collaborating on projects or socialising outside of work. 

“So, why should someone join our team? We offer a dynamic and supportive workplace where individuals can learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, Healthify allows you to thrive and achieve your goals,” concluded Bhojarajan. 

Check out the careers page here.

Read more: How This Startup is Making You Eat Healthy with Generative AI