Indian startup Cognitii has won the $100,000 Unlock Her Future Prize 2025 for its AI-led system for public special education. Founded by Jhillika Trisal, Falguni Shrivastava, and Souvik Ghosh, the company addresses critical gaps in identifying and supporting children with disabilities in India. BENGALURU: Cognitii, an Indian startup developing an AI-led system for public special education, has won the $100,000 Unlock Her Future Prize 2025. The prize, launched by The Bicester Collection, drew more than 2,900 applications from over 40 countries across South Asia. Eleven founders were shortlisted for the final pitch in London, where Cognitii was named one of six winners.Founded by Jhillika Trisal from Gurugram, Falguni Shrivastava from Raipur, and Souvik Ghosh from Kolkata, Cognitii is building what it calls India’s first AI plus human infrastructure layer for special education. The founders, who have lived experience of autism and ADHD, began the company to address gaps they had seen in India’s systems. The team points to a critical national challenge: more than 80% of children with disabilities remain unidentified before age eight, limiting access to education, rehabilitation, and employment.Cognitii’s platform combines early screening tools, a mobile-first learning system, an educator co-pilot, and policy-grade dashboards for state agencies. The tools integrate with public data systems such as UDISE+ and Samagra Shiksha, allowing govts to track disability prevalence, inclusion outcomes, and the use of budgets. The company says it is designed for low-resource classrooms, with offline capability and multilingual support.The startup’s pilots are ongoing in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and other school systems. With the award, Cognitii plans wider govt deployments, deeper rural outreach, and the creation of what it calls India’s first disability data layer. The team says this will help shape policy and guide hiring and budget decisions in the coming years.“This win is a turning point, not just for Cognitii, but for millions of children who remain invisible in our systems. The Unlock Her Future Prize gives us the platform and resources to scale our work with governments and low-income schools, and to build the national infrastructure India needs for early screening, support, and inclusion,” the founders said in a joint statement, shared with TOI.The Unlock Her Future Prize supports women entrepreneurs working on solutions for people and the planet. Winners receive funding, leadership development, mentorship, and access to networks of investors and policymakers. Cognitii aims to use this support to strengthen India’s special education ecosystem and expand its work across the Global South.About the AuthorChethan KumarChethan Kumar is a Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India. Aside from specialising in Space & Science, he has reported extensively on varied topics, with special focus on defence, policy and data stories. He has covered multiple elections, too. As a young democracy grows out of adolescence, Chethan feels, there are reels of tales emerging which need to be captured. To do this, he alternates between the mundane goings-on of the Common Man and the wonder-filled worlds of scientists and scamsters, politicians and soldiers. In a career spanning nearly 18 years, he has reported from multiple datelines — Houston, Florida, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Sriharikota (AP), NH-1 (J&K Highway), New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Raichur, Bhatkal, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, to name a few — but is based out of Bengaluru, India’s science capital that also hosts the ISRO HQ.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTejas Crash: IAF Pilot Killed In Dubai Crash Identified As Wing Commander Namansh SyalDefence Experts Break Down Possible Causes Behind Tejas Fighter Jet Crash In DubaiPM Modi Gets Rousing Welcome From Indian Diaspora In Johannesburg Ahead Of G20 Summit | South Africa’‘I Am A Hindu’: Shashi Tharoor Evokes Swami Vivekananda To Tell The World What Hinduism Stands ForAmit Shah Says BSF Crushed 118 Pak Posts, He Issues Tough Security Message From Sindoor Van In KutchEx-CIA Reveals Savage Reply To Imran Khan’s PTI After Apology Demand Over His India-Pak War Analysis’All 140 MLAs Are Mine’: DK Shivakumar Amid Karnataka CM Speculation; Siddaramaiah RespondsKabul Turns To India As New Trade Partner Amid Pak Blockades And Push For Fresh Regional CorridorsTejas Crashes In Dubai Air Show Display As Massive Fireball Sparks Panic, Pilot Succumbs To InjuriesDeadly 5.5 Earthquake Rocks Bangladesh, Killing At Least Six, Triggers Widespread Panic Across Dhaka123Photostories‘120 Bahadur’ star Raashii Khanna’s promotional looksWhat causes high uric acid levels, early symptoms and how to bring it down naturally with science backed tipsTop Harvard doctor reveals the right time to eat these 7 nuts to gain maximum benefitsVegetarian Thanksgiving: 4 mains that taste better than the Turkey10 dhaba-style Paneer dishes to try at home this weekendRekha to Kriti Sanon: Trending celebrity style highlights of the dayFrom Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ to Salman Khan’s ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’: A look at classic Bollywood films through the modern lensWhy Sadhguru recommends having Beetroot and Cardamom Soup during winter eveningsHow to make Zero-Oil Soya Biryani at homeFrom FOMO to Slaps: New age Gen Z terms parents should know123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingBest Rockstar Games to Play for GTA 6Savannah JamesWayne GretzkysTrevon DiggsDelhi School Suicide CaseKolkata EarthquakeCandace OwensGavin BrindleySophie CunninghamMLB Trade Rumors
BENGALURU: Cognitii, an Indian startup developing an AI-led system for public special education, has won the $100,000 Unlock Her Future Prize 2025. The prize, launched by The Bicester Collection, drew more than 2,900 applications from over 40 countries across South Asia. Eleven founders were shortlisted for the final pitch in London, where Cognitii was named one of six winners.Founded by Jhillika Trisal from Gurugram, Falguni Shrivastava from Raipur, and Souvik Ghosh from Kolkata, Cognitii is building what it calls India’s first AI plus human infrastructure layer for special education. The founders, who have lived experience of autism and ADHD, began the company to address gaps they had seen in India’s systems. The team points to a critical national challenge: more than 80% of children with disabilities remain unidentified before age eight, limiting access to education, rehabilitation, and employment.Cognitii’s platform combines early screening tools, a mobile-first learning system, an educator co-pilot, and policy-grade dashboards for state agencies. The tools integrate with public data systems such as UDISE+ and Samagra Shiksha, allowing govts to track disability prevalence, inclusion outcomes, and the use of budgets. The company says it is designed for low-resource classrooms, with offline capability and multilingual support.The startup’s pilots are ongoing in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and other school systems. With the award, Cognitii plans wider govt deployments, deeper rural outreach, and the creation of what it calls India’s first disability data layer. The team says this will help shape policy and guide hiring and budget decisions in the coming years.“This win is a turning point, not just for Cognitii, but for millions of children who remain invisible in our systems. The Unlock Her Future Prize gives us the platform and resources to scale our work with governments and low-income schools, and to build the national infrastructure India needs for early screening, support, and inclusion,” the founders said in a joint statement, shared with TOI.The Unlock Her Future Prize supports women entrepreneurs working on solutions for people and the planet. Winners receive funding, leadership development, mentorship, and access to networks of investors and policymakers. Cognitii aims to use this support to strengthen India’s special education ecosystem and expand its work across the Global South.