Cognitii: The AI Platform Tackling the Special Education Gap

Co-founded in 2024 by Falguni Shrivastava, Cognitii is an AI-powered edtech startup building the infrastructure to support neurodiverse children at scale. 

Winner of the 2025 WomenEntrepreneurs4Good pitch contest,  the India-based venture combines technology and human expertise to help schools and governments identify, support, and track children with special educational needs (CwSN). 

By reducing months of manual work to just two weeks and equipping institutions with real-time data, Cognitii is tackling one of the world’s most under-resourced education challenges.

Globally, over 240 million children have special learning needs, including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and intellectual disabilities. In India alone, this concerns 35 million children, yet the support system is critically under-resourced. There are only 120,000 trained special educators in the country, resulting in a staggering ratio of one educator for every 250 children. This shortage is even more acute in rural areas, emerging cities (Tier 2) or small towns (Tier 3).

Consequently, educators are overburdened by manual workflows, parents face stigma or confusion, and children are often "written off" from the system before they get a chance to learn.

Cognitii acts as an AI plus human infrastructure layer purpose-built for institutions and governments. The platform operates in three steps:

1. Early Identification: Using a mobile app with game-based screening and human input to flag early signs of developmental delays and build a cognitive profile using AI.
2. Automated Support: The AI automates the creation of Individualized Education Plans (IEP), reducing the planning time for educators from months to just two weeks, and personalizes the curriculum.
3. Outcome Measurement: Real-time dashboards provide schools and governments with data on learning outcomes and inclusion, helping them allocate resources and budgets more effectively.

• 35 million neurodiverse children in India.
• 10 institutions currently using the solution.
• 643 learners and 50+ educators on the platform.
• 2 weeks: The time it takes to create an IEP with Cognitii, compared to months manually.
• $150k+ raised in funding through global innovation and impact funds from the US, UK and India.

Initially, the startup operated on a B2C model, targeting parents directly. However, they faced significant challenges regarding scalability and parental denial due to social stigma. The team then decided to pivot to an institutional-first model (B2B and B2G), selling directly to schools and partnering with governments. 

This strategic shift allowed them to address the problem at a systemic level. Moreover, Cognitii’s journey was refined during the “WomenEntrepreneurs4Good” program at HEC Paris, especially through mentorship which helped them gain clarity in terms of product, GTM, positioning in order to become a long-term viable solution. Their approach was validated when Cognitii won the Jury Prize at the 2025 Women's Forum Global Meeting.

The startup is currently finalizing a pre-seed round and aims to monetize a pipeline of 50+ institutions to reach 50,000 learners in the next 18 months. 

Cognitii is also actively engaging with three state governments in India for statewide pilots to work at the grassroots level. Looking further ahead, Falguni Shrivastava plans to expand into the US and European markets within the next 12 to 24 months, with the vision of becoming the “Global Stack” for inclusive education.