Jessica O. Matthews, a Nigerian-American inventor, entrepreneur, and speaker, has redefined what it means to blend play, science, and innovation. Known globally for creating the Soccket, a power-generating football, her work is changing lives in off-grid communities across Africa and Latin America.

Early Life and Education

Born on 13 February 1988, Jessica Matthews grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, as a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria. Raised by entrepreneurial parents who ran a software company, Decision Technologies International, Matthews was surrounded by technology from an early age. She is the second of four children in a close-knit family.

From a young age, Matthews aspired to be an inventor, showing a deep passion for science, creativity, and social impact.

The Birth of Soccket: Turning Frustration into Innovation

In her third year at Harvard University, Matthews had a life-changing experience during her aunt’s wedding in Nigeria. A sudden power cut — a common issue in many parts of the country — meant the event had to rely on noisy, polluting diesel generators. This moment sparked an idea that would later evolve into one of the most impactful inventions of her generation.

Back at Harvard, Matthews and her classmate Julia Silverman created the Soccket in 2008 as part of an engineering class assignment. The idea was simple but revolutionary: a football that captures kinetic energy as it’s played with and converts it into electricity. Just 30 minutes of play could power an LED lamp for up to 3 hours, making it a potential game-changer for children needing light to study at night.

This invention became the foundation for Uncharted Power, a startup Matthews would later lead full-time after a brief stint at CrowdTap.

Uncharted Power: Scaling Sustainable Energy Innovation

Under Matthews’ leadership, Uncharted Power evolved from a single product company into a broader infrastructure technology firm. Its proprietary energy-harvesting technology is now embedded into everyday objects — from floor panels to strollers — capturing and storing power from movement.

Another product, the Pulse, a jump rope that generates electricity, offers a similar solution. Fifteen minutes of jumping could produce enough energy to power an LED light for three hours.

By 2017, over 500,000 units of Socckets and Pulses had been distributed, primarily in underserved communities across Africa and Latin America.

Breaking Barriers and Making History

Jessica Matthews has achieved several historic milestones:
• In 2012, she was invited to the White House by President Barack Obama to witness the signing of the America Invents Act, representing small businesses.
• In 2016, she raised $7 million in Series A funding, making it the largest Series A round ever raised by a Black female founder at the time.
• She was invited to ring the NASDAQ opening bell, symbolising her role in the Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni community.
• In 2021, she was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to the Electricity Advisory Committee.

Her invention, Soccket, was also recognised by Toyota in 2012 as a tool that drives social innovation. The accompanying grant helped her grow Uncharted Power’s reach.

Academic Background and Industry Recognition

Matthews holds a degree in Psychology and Economics from Harvard University, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. Her patents have been cited over 40 times by tech giants such as IBM, Intel, Sony, Qualcomm, Philips, and Toshiba — a testament to her influence on global tech innovation.

She has graced the cover of Forbes and Forbes Africa, and has been featured in Marie Claire, Fast Company, Wired, The New York Times, TechCrunch, and Inc. magazine.

Her accolades include:
• Forbes 30 Under 30
• Fortune’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs
• Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30
• Female Founders 100
• Harvard Scientist of the Year
• Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award
• One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year
• Tech Trailblazer Award by Black Women Tech Talk

Known for her humour and relatability, Matthews once described herself as a “blend of Beyoncé and Bill Nye the Science Guy” — fusing style, intellect, and substance.

Legacy and Impact

Jessica Matthews’ journey is proof that innovation can be born from everyday challenges, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship can light up the world — quite literally.

Though production of the Soccket has been discontinued since 2016, its impact and the inspiration it brought to sustainable tech continues to grow through Uncharted Power and Matthews’ broader influence in the global innovation ecosystem.

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