Convocation spotlight: Jean Bruce Koua (Department of Economics)

Before successfully completing his bachelor of arts with a major in economics and a minor in political science, Jean Bruce Koua had already co-founded a successful business and made a name for himself among some of the country’s most influential thought leaders and entrepreneurs. 

Koua, who was born in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and moved to Tanzania before attending the University of Alberta as an international student, co-founded Elev alongside two U of A alumni, Kevin Mpunga and Kwasi Boateng, in 2020. 

Elev, which means student in French — a nod to Koua’s first language — is an online platform connecting students with affordable and safe off-campus housing. 

“When I came here to study, I missed the deadline to apply for residence,” he says. “It was my first time without my family, and I didn’t know anyone in Canada. And as a student, it's a lot more challenging because you're not only competing against other students; you're also competing against professionals with a full-time job.”

Recognizing the need for a convenient and reliable service for students, specifically international students, Elev was born, where Koua continues his role as chief operating officer. 

“Not knowing where to look for housing was the origin of Elev,” he says. “Today, we’re helping support students throughout their whole journey.” 

Using Elev as a launchpad, Koua was chosen out of thousands of applicants for the Next 36 2022 cohort in Toronto. One of just 36 undergrads selected from across Canada, the young entrepreneur spent eight months learning the ins and outs of starting and running the next great business. 

Working alongside some of the greatest business minds, including instructors from Rotman School of Management, Oxford University, Harvard Business School and MIT, to name a few, he gathered the skills and insight needed to “create the next unicorn,” a common phrase in the startup world for a game-changing company. 

“Once you enter the program, they essentially teach you how to build the business,” he says. “They teach you how to fail and how to fail fast and fail forward so that you can keep making changes to whatever you build so you can improve it and continue to grow.” 

In addition to founding a startup and working toward his degree, Koua completed two student work terms, one with the Government of Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada and one at Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), both during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. 

“It was a challenging time, but it was good because it helped me with my personal growth,” he says. “I've gained so much knowledge and experience. Most importantly, I met very smart, skilled and helpful people, many of who I am still in contact with today.” 

As for what’s next for Koua, it’s safe to assume the sky is the limit. 

“When COVID happened, and I came back from the internship, my perspective changed. I became more intentional with the courses I was taking, the people I was meeting and everything I was doing.”

He continues: 

“Being more intentional opened a lot of doors and helped me take more risks. With the resources available to me, especially at the U of A, I was able to start building my career. I’m ready to go out there and find ways to make things happen.”