Each year, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia celebrates young entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who are creating meaningful change across the Asia-Pacific region. This year, Shoolini B Tech Biotechnology alumni Falguni Shrivastava and Jhillika Trisal earned a place on the prestigious list in the Social Impact category for their work through Cognitii.
Cognitii is a platform that combines AI with human expertise to help schools, healthcare providers, and governments identify developmental needs early, deliver personalised support, and measure outcomes at scale.
The platform focuses on supporting and tracking children with developmental and learning needs such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and dyslexia at population scale. By standardising developmental screening, individualised planning, coordinated intervention, and longitudinal outcome tracking, Cognitii is building India’s digital public infrastructure for child development and inclusive education, enabling data-driven governance and systems accountability.
Today, the company works with schools, healthcare providers, and government institutions to help them deliver inclusive education and better developmental outcomes. Jhillika serves as CEO and Falguni as CPO.
“We’re building technology that helps identify developmental needs early, personalise support, and give every child the opportunity to learn in the way that’s right for them.” — Falguni, CPO, Cognitii
The Forbes honour adds to a growing list of international recognitions for the founders. Earlier, Jhillika and Falguni represented India at the WomenEntrepreneurs4Good Program by Bank of America, HEC Paris, and the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society. Competing alongside entrepreneurs from across the world, Cognitii was recognised among the Top 10 global finalists and received the Jury Prize.
Cognitii is further supported by organisations including the Department of Science and Technology (Government of India), DPIIT, NCPEDP, Emergent Ventures, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and The Bicester Collection, reflecting growing confidence in the company’s mission and long-term vision.
For the founders, building the right partnerships has always mattered more than simply raising capital. “An investor is not just someone who writes a cheque. The right investor believes in what you are building and why. That relationship changes everything.” — Jhillika Trisal, CEO, Cognitii
During their time at Shoolini University, both founders actively participated beyond the classroom. They were among the founders of the Genomage Biosciences Society, TEDxShoolini, and Shoolini Ventures. These were the spaces where they first started thinking beyond their coursework, about real problems, workable solutions, and what it might look like to actually build something.
Reflecting on that experience, Falguni says, “I don’t think either of us walked into Shoolini thinking we would start a company. But the campus pushes you to think differently about problems. That stays with you.”
Shoolini University’s research-driven culture encourages students to move beyond academics and develop solutions with real-world value. Through initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, industry mentorship, innovation programs, and interdisciplinary research opportunities, students are encouraged not only to learn but also to build.
The recognition of Jhillika Trisal and Falguni Shrivastava in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list reflects that spirit. Their journey from biotechnology students to founders of Cognitii shows how research, technology, and entrepreneurship can come together to create lasting social impact.
Vaishali Thakur
June 26, 2026
