SAMARITAN OF AUTISM 

CogniABle CTO & Founder Manu Kohli is on a mission to heal the autism ecosystem by addressing lacunae like detection, intervention, high costs and lack of access - with power, precision and purpose.

MEET THE LEADER

Mr. Manu Kohli is the CTO & Founder of CogniABle. CogniABle is a Machine learning-driven assistive technology for early detection and affordable treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. Founded by researchers and Scientists from IIT-Delhi, paediatricians, Psychologists and BCBA's from India and USA, CogniAble brings affordability, accessibility and high-quality management on Autism condition on one’s fingertips.

We are elated to connect with Manu, and start the session by trying to capture the essence of Manu’s persona briefly for our readers. The man who revels in the potential of ideas happily obliges..

“I’m an engineering & management graduate with 20 years of global work experience, formerly as a SAP specialist with Fortune 500 Companies across Europe, USA & India and then as the co-founder of CogniAble. While I have authored several books on SAP, I’m also a PhD candidate at IIT-Delhi with my research focused on developing affordable, accessible & data-driven solutions for early detection and intervention of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I currently live in Gurgaon, Haryana with my family.”

THE BIG IDEA 

We move on, the narrative veering towards the central force driving Manu Kohli’s ascension in his chosen space. What is the one big idea, concept or philosophy that defines him or his approach to life? What, in other words, is his success mantra? The idea champion spontaneously obliges…

“Enabling special needs and lives - the data way’ is the idea that birthed CogniAble. CogniAble has been developed with four major objectives – Providing solutions that are affordable, usable by all caregivers, remotely accessible and data-driven. I returned to India in 2017 to work on CogniAble and bring fruition to this idea. Today, CogniAble’s AI-driven clinically validated screening platform detects autism with 98% accuracy for children between 1.5 – 5 years old, and the digital intervention platform is being used by professionals in India, Singapore, USA and beyond.”

EVOLUTION OF JOURNEY 

So how did this idea or philosophy gradually become the driving force of his journey? Was there any person or life-altering experience or turning-point that caused it or inspired it? Manu enters flashback mode…

“My wife, Swati, has been a child psychologist & special educator by profession for two decades now. She had always seen the growing need of services for special needs. I was introduced to this field through her, but the biggest turning point came for us when our only child who’s now 18, received a delayed diagnosis of Autism as a child. As parents, we personally faced immense struggles while exploring healthcare & special education services across India, USA and few European countries. We recognized the need for combining gold-standard intervention approaches with technology to scale up high-quality services for similar children across the globe, and brought together a team of co-founders & members passionate for innovation in this field. Thus began the journey of CogniAble.”

THE ROAD AHEAD

Manu Kohli has been steadily engineering ripples of impact in a field where intervention has been long overdue. So what’s next on his horizon? What is the big goal or challenge that he wants to solve in the future with the help of this idea / mantra? Manu peers into the crystal ball for us…

“CogniAble seeks to solve several problems for people with ASD & special needs: Lack of early detection & intervention in society, high costs of healthcare services, lack of accessibility & clinical experts – these are just to name a few.”

ABOUT VOH

We wish Manu Kohli the very best in his noble vision. A short but heart-warming session has reached its conclusion, and we urge Manu to spare a word or two about Voice of Healthcare. How, according to him, can tribute profiles such as Idea Leaders add direction, inspiration and positive energy to the healthcare community? The man who is steadily altering the future of the autism ecosystem in India (and globally) shares generously…

“I commend VOH and its endeavour to shed light on individual aspirations and journeys of leaders in the healthcare sector. Initiatives like this don’t just generate awareness amongst the public, but also encourage reader imagination and direct their creativity towards embarking on similar journeys.”

*This story is published by VOH team.*