Himanshu Chaurasia and Saurabh Yadav, two passionate students from MNNIT Allahabad, embarked on their journey with an ambitious idea. During their engineering studies, they applied for the thingQbator Cohort 1 with their project, Counselling Guru. This initiative aimed to revolutionize the way students receive guidance and counseling. Their innovative approach and dedication led them to win the cohort, igniting their entrepreneurial spirit.

Just as they were gearing up to turn their idea into reality, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The global crisis put a halt to their plans for Counselling Guru. However, this setback didn't deter their determination. During the pandemic, Himanshu and Saurabh noticed a pressing issue in their village: the closure of local schools due to a significant drop in student attendance. This forced many children to travel to nearby towns for schooling, creating a new challenge in their community.

Recognizing the educational crisis in rural areas, Himanshu and Saurabh saw an opportunity to make a difference. They returned to the thingQbator program, leveraging the alumni connect initiative to seek expert mentorship. Their new vision was clear: to provide quality education to rural students through technology. This marked the birth of Cograd.

Cograd is dedicated to ensuring that children in rural India have access to quality education. Utilizing technology, Himanshu and Saurabh aim to bridge the gap between urban and rural education. Their initiative focuses on creating an engaging and effective learning environment for students who have limited access to educational resources.

Cograd began its journey by setting up initial schools in their village, transforming the educational landscape. These schools are equipped with the necessary technological tools and resources to provide a high standard of education. The impact was immediate and profound, with students showing significant improvement in their academic performance and engagement.

The thingQbator program continued to play a crucial role in Cograd's development. Recognizing the potential and impact of Cograd, thingQbator provided seed funding and other essential resources to support their startup. This financial boost, coupled with ongoing mentorship, has been instrumental in helping Cograd scale its operations and reach more rural areas.

The story of Himanshu and Saurabh is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and community support. From their initial idea of Counselling Guru to the creation of Cograd, their journey is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs. Through their dedication and the support of programs like thingQbator, they are making a tangible difference in the lives of many rural students.

Cograd is more than just an educational initiative; it's a movement towards equality in education. By supporting Cograd, you can contribute to a brighter future for rural children in India. Together, we can ensure that every child has access to quality education, regardless of their location.