DeeLab Academy grew from an internal training need into a full certification program. We now offer five hands-on courses to help individuals and teams build real annotation skills.
Five Data Annotation Courses
We now offer five courses at DeeLab Academy:
These form the foundation of our Certified Data Annotator program.
There are two ways to become a Certified Data Annotator:
Take each course individually. Complete all five within 12 months. You’ll receive a certificate for each course, and once all are completed, we’ll award your full certification.
Join the full program upfront. This includes all five courses at a discounted price and offers a more structured path to certification.
DeeLab Academy
DeeLab Academy combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on exercises and examples, equipping participants to confidently apply their skills in professional settings.
How It All Started
DeeLab began operations on September 1, 2023. When we started interviewing data annotators, we quickly realized something important: there was no reliable way to assess their basic skills without testing them ourselves. At the same time, we needed a way to ensure our team could take on different types of annotation projects in the future. That’s when the idea of building an internal training and testing program first took shape.
We considered using existing platforms or tests, but none of them fit our needs. So we turned to our sister venture, Upsolut, for help. Their team recommended using open-source frameworks to build our own courses and tests. It meant more effort, but also gave us the freedom to shape the entire program based on our vision and how we believe data annotation should be taught.
Our team lead Hannah and her team began working on the General Skills Assessment (GSA) — a screening test every applicant would complete. This would help us understand their readiness and highlight areas where further training might be needed.
We worked closely with Upsolut to set up the platform and design the courses. In June 2024, we launched the GSA on open source Moodle e-learning portal. Dozens of annotators took the test. Their results gave us new insights into how we could match people with the right projects — and where we could help them grow.
A New Idea: Certification Program
As our General Skills program matured, we started asking bigger questions:
What if we opened these courses to others? What if we would develop a certification program of our own?
We imagined companies using them to train internal teams. Freelance annotators gaining credentials to prove their skills. People looking for a career change finding a clear learning path — and walking away with proof of what they’ve achieved.
The idea of DeeLab Academy was born. It was a bold idea for a bootstrapped startup. But it made sense. The training we were building internally could benefit a wider community. And it aligned with our mission to improve the quality and reliability of data annotation work.
DeeLab Academy’s First Client
In September 2024, we trained 20 annotators for DeeLab Academy’s first client, OmniContact. Their training wrapped up in December, and participants received certifications in image labeling, video labeling, semantic segmentation, and 3D LiDAR.
The feedback was deeply encouraging. OmniContact shared this review on Clutch:
“DeeLab AI’s training resulted in increased workforce proficiency, improved quality metrics, efficiency improvements, and positive client feedback. The team delivered on time, was responsive to our needs, and communicated effectively. Their flexibility and QA process were outstanding.”
It confirmed what we hoped: we could do this well — and we were ready to offer it more widely.
Our First Public Course
On March 27, 2025, we launched our first open course: Image Labeling Essentials. Seven individuals signed up. Six completed it and earned their certificates by April 5.
The feedback spoke volumes:
- “Excellent course and superb instructors!”
- “Great course! Highly recommend it.”
- “You folks are doing everything right. Please don’t change anything.”
We also received our first 5-star Google Reviews from course participants. That meant a lot to our small team — proof that careful planning, the right partnerships, and a shared vision can truly make a difference.
Image Labeling Essentials
DeeLab Academy combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on exercises and examples, equipping participants to confidently apply their skills in professional settings.
What Comes Next
Encouraged by these early experiences, we’re expanding our offering. Our Certified Data Annotator Program now includes five courses across different types of annotation. Once a participant completes all five, they receive full certification.
This has been a year of growth — not just for DeeLab, but for everyone who has walked this path with us. From early ideas to structured courses. From internal testing to public certification. From hesitation to confidence.
We’re still just getting started. But we’ve built something real, and we’re excited to keep going — step by step, lesson by lesson.
