Transforming placement cells into strategic talent partner, Varun Modgill, MD & CTO Cognavi India

New Delhi [India], June 30: We do not believe in bypassing placement cells; we believe in transforming them into strategic talent partners for industry. Cognavi India has established partnerships with 72 universities and institutions, giving us access to a talent ecosystem of more than 450,000 engineering and STEM students. Our objective is to scale this network beyond 200 institutions over the next few years said Varun Modgill, MD & CTO of Cognavi India 

Cognavi platform enables universities to digitize student profiles, assess technical and behavioral competencies, conduct AI-enabled interviews, and connect students directly with employers. For placement teams, this creates greater visibility into student readiness and employer demand. For employers, it provides access to a structured pipeline of pre-evaluated talent.

Cognavi’s approach is fundamentally different. We focus on understanding the individual behind the resume.

The cost of a poor hiring decision is far greater than most organizations realize.When a company hires a graduate who leaves within six months, the organization loses recruitment costs, onboarding investments, training resources, and valuable management time. In manufacturing environments, it can also affect productivity, quality, and team stability.

Our assessments help employers evaluate dimensions that are often overlooked during traditional recruitment processes. Beyond technical competence, we assess workplace preferences, communication styles, problem-solving approaches, learning orientation, and behavioral characteristics that influence long-term success.

When candidates understand the nature of the role and employers gain deeper insight into candidate potential, both parties make better decisions. Better alignment leads to stronger retention, faster onboarding, and improved workforce productivity.

Ultimately, our value proposition is not simply helping companies hire faster. It is helping them hire better.

Today, Cognavi India’s ecosystem includes more than 450,000 students and young professionals across our network of 72 partner institutions and talent communities.

Cognavi India focus is on improving hiring efficiency and quality outcomes for employers while increasing career opportunities for students.

Over the next 12–18 months, Cognavi’s priorities are to 

Expand institutional network beyond 200 universities and colleges. Grow our talent ecosystem from 450,000 to more than 1 million candidates. Strengthen partnerships with Japanese, multinational, and Indian employers. Expand Work-in-Japan and international mobility programs for highly skilled Indian engineers.

Continue investing in AI-driven assessment, matching, and career development capabilities.

India possesses one of the world’s largest engineering talent pools. Our vision is to become the most trusted platform connecting that talent with opportunities across India and globally.

We are not building another job portal. We are building the talent infrastructure that connects education, industry, and international careers at scale said Varun Modgill, MD & CTO, Cognavi India

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