Cognitii

Founded by Jhillika Trisal (Co-Founder & CEO) with Falguni Shrivastava (Co-Founder & CPO) and Souvik Ghosh (Co-Founder & CTO) , Cognitii is building what India’s inclusive education ecosystem has been missing: an AI + human infrastructure layer that helps schools and governments identify and support children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and intellectual disabilities —at scale. Their platform is designed to reduce educator workload, make inclusive education more consistent, and help institutions deliver support earlier—without relying on a clinic-heavy or paperwork-heavy process.

What are they building?

Cognitii is building India’s first AI + human infrastructure for inclusive education, helping institutions screen early, plan support faster, and deliver more personalized learning for children who need it.

The platform supports early screening to identify learners who may require additional help, automates IEPs to reduce documentation time, and delivers gamified learning through low-cost Android devices. By embedding into schools and public education systems (rather than operating as an ad-driven consumer edtech model), Cognitii also provides real-time insights so educators and decision-makers can understand needs and allocate support more effectively.

The why?

Jhillika Representing Cognitii at the Inclusive Education Summit, New Delhi

For Jhillika, Cognitii didn’t begin as a “startup idea.” It began with lived experience—and then years spent seeing how the system works up close.

Growing up with a persistent feeling of not belonging and later encountering the terms autism and ADHD gave language to experiences she didn’t previously know how to explain, and it pushed her toward neuroscience and understanding the brain more objectively.

But the turning point came from volunteering at special schools. She saw educators doing deeply meaningful work—while also being forced to spend time on tasks that were “cumbersome” and time-consuming. As a technologist, she saw the opportunity clearly: if inclusive education is going to scale, schools need more than good intentions. They need infrastructure.

Cognitii started in the later part of 2023 as a side project with the three co-founders—until it became the only thing they could imagine building.

SEED Inclusivity Program Journey

Cognitii used SEED Inclusivity to sharpen how they communicate, fundraise, and scale—especially as an “atypical venture” operating in inclusive education.

They highlighted SIGMA as a practical “pitch copilot,” helping them collate key data points and deliver a clearer, more structured narrative. They also shared that coaching helped improve pitch delivery—especially pacing and clarity.

One session that stuck with them was about fundraising, particularly the reminder that “atypical ventures will require atypical funding.” For Cognitii, it reframed earlier frustrations with traditional VC expectations and reinforced the need to pursue mission-aligned capital.

Recent Achievements

Built and launched an institution-first platform for inclusive education focused on autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and intellectual disabilities

Reported early revenue stage with paying users

Funds raised to date: USD 65,000 (pre-seed)

Currently raising: USD 250,000 (equity + grants)

Public ecosystem visibility through innovation and inclusion platforms (including Seed Inclusivity Cohort profiles and education innovation listings)

“I grew up with a feeling that I did not belong… But that knowledge helped me embrace some parts of me.”

— Jhillika Trisal, Co-Founder & CEO