Katie BOKAN: convo Founder & Teacher

Tell us something about yourself, your background:

I am currently the founder of an EdTech startup, convo, an online IELTS test study platform.

Prior to starting convo, I was an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher for nearly a decade. While I’m originally from the U.S., I moved abroad shortly after graduating from university to begin my teaching career in East Asia. After several years, I became an Adjunct Professor of English at Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea in 2014. I then moved to Dubai in 2018 to continue teaching and advance my career, and have now taught students from over 70 countries. I also have a Harvard University Higher Education Teaching Certification, a Cambridge IELTS Teaching Certification, and a TEFL Certification.

Tell us about your venture with a brief explanation:

My EdTech startup convo makes credible and convenient online IELTS test preparation accessible to everyone. Learners can now prep for IELTS online at their own pace, for less stress and higher scores.

The benefits of prepping for IELTS with convo include: 24/7 access to our university-caliber student portal, 24 hours of guided self-study video lessons with a Harvard-certified and IELTS-certified teacher; 120+ practice activities; 1 to 6 months of prep time; and certificates of completion.

convo also offers no-cost B2B (business-to-business) partnership options designed to add a revenue stream to your organization or business, while supporting your customers or learners. Our partnerships come with everything you need to get started, from customized discount codes for accessible prices, financial incentives, marketing materials, and more. We work with each partner individually to collaborate and ensure we grow and flourish together.

We provide Affiliate and Reseller Partnership Program options, but are open to create custom partnerships to suit the needs of your organization or business. Some sectors we partner with include: universities, private schools, immigration agencies, non-profits, NGOs, government departments, content creators, and more. Click image below to visit our site.

How/Why did you start as an entrepreneur? What set you off?

Throughout my years of teaching, my students often complained about the difficulty of the IELTS test, and how overwhelming preparing for it could be. I started doing research to help them, and quickly found that their options were limited:

Big institutions are credible, but often expensive and inconvenient
Free options are available, but often less credible and incomplete/disorganized

I started convo because my students, and students around the world, would greatly benefit from credible and convenient IELTS preparation at accessible prices. The IELTS test can be life-changing, and high-quality prep should never be priced out of reach for the many people who need IELTS for their immigration requirements, to enroll in higher education, or to find work abroad. Credible, high-quality, and convenient IELTS prep should be accessible to everyone.

*The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test is required for those looking to migrate, work, or study abroad in an English-speaking country. It can also be required by companies located outside English-speaking countries, who conduct business in English, and a good IELTS score is often the difference between getting hired or receiving a promotion. Approximately 3.5 million people take the IELTS test every year.

Tell us about a bit more about your venture:

Accessibility is at the heart of the convo mission. There are millions around the world who would benefit from the IELTS test, and we’re eager to help. We’re especially proud of our recent partnership with a non-profit dedicated to refugee job placement services. We were able to offer discounted access to our platform to ensure every refugee had access to credible and convenient test preparation.