Diaspora Star | Jessica O. Matthews : The Revolutionary Mind Turning Everyday Motion Into Power

Jessica O. Matthews is not just another success story in the Nigerian diaspora; she is a rare blend of scientist, visionary and fearless builder redefining how the world thinks about energy. Her journey is a masterclass in turning frustration into invention, ideas into infrastructure, and identity into global impact. In a world desperate for clean, sustainable power solutions, Matthews stands at the intersection of creativity, engineering and community empowerment.

Born to Nigerian parents and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, Matthews grew up surrounded by technology and problem-solving. Her parents ran a software company, so discussions about systems, innovation and solutions were part of her everyday life. Even as a teenager, she was the kind who didn’t simply notice problems she analyzed them, challenged them and asked, “How can this work better?” That instinct would later fuel some of her most groundbreaking projects.

Her defining moment came during a trip to Nigeria for her aunt’s wedding. The celebration was disrupted by a power outage, forcing the event to rely on diesel generators, noisy, fume-filled and hazardous. For many Nigerians, it was a routine inconvenience. For Jessica, it was unacceptable. That experience stayed with her, ultimately merging with her engineering coursework at Harvard College. In 2008, alongside classmate Julia Silverman, she created Soccket, the soccer ball that converts play into electricity.

Soccket was simple in concept but revolutionary in execution: 30 minutes of play could power an LED lamp for hours. It wasn’t just an invention, it was a symbol of possibility. Through it, Jessica showed that children kicking a ball after school could also generate light for their evening homework. Communities with unreliable electricity suddenly had a playful, practical alternative. And for the global tech world, it was a reminder that innovation doesn’t always look like a factory, sometimes, it looks like a ball rolling across dusty streets.

That invention later evolved into Uncharted Power, the company she built and led with relentless ambition. While many startups fade after one brilliant idea, Matthews refused to stop at Soccket. She shifted Uncharted Power from producing energy-generating toys to designing full-scale infrastructure technology, a bold pivot that set her apart from typical social entrepreneurs.

Her flagship platform, MORE (Motion-based Off-Grid Renewable Energy), takes the core idea behind Soccket and embeds it into everyday life: sidewalks that store energy as people walk, baby strollers that generate power, subway turnstiles that capture motion, speed bumps that convert friction into electricity. It is futuristic, yet deeply practical. Through MORE, Matthews envisions cities where infrastructure doubles as an energy network, clean, decentralized and accessible.

Her success has attracted global recognition and millions in venture capital. By 2016, Uncharted Power was profitable and expanding rapidly, earning attention from Fortune, Forbes, Black Enterprise and other top institutions. When she secured her Series A round, she became one of the very few Black women in U.S. history to raise more than $1 million in venture funding, a milestone that underscored her determination in an ecosystem known for its barriers.

But she never disconnected from Nigeria. Matthews co-founded KDDC, which is developing a 30-megawatt hydroelectric dam, one of Nigeria’s early privatized energy projects. Her involvement signals a clear commitment: as she rises globally, she invests locally. She brings the competitiveness of Silicon Valley, the discipline of Harvard and the emotional intelligence of diaspora experience back into Africa’s development landscape.

Her impact also extends to community empowerment. Moving Uncharted Power to Harlem led her to establish the Harlem Tech Fund, designed to nurture startups from underserved communities and train thousands of residents in real-world tech skills. To Matthews, innovation has no value if it doesn’t uplift people.

But she never disconnected from Nigeria. Matthews co-founded KDDC, which is developing a 30-megawatt hydroelectric dam, one of Nigeria’s early privatized energy projects. Her involvement signals a clear commitment: as she rises globally, she invests locally. She brings the competitiveness of Silicon Valley, the discipline of Harvard and the emotional intelligence of diaspora experience back into Africa’s development landscape.

Her impact also extends to community empowerment. Moving Uncharted Power to Harlem led her to establish the Harlem Tech Fund, designed to nurture startups from underserved communities and train thousands of residents in real-world tech skills. To Matthews, innovation has no value if it doesn’t uplift people.

But she never disconnected from Nigeria. Matthews co-founded KDDC, which is developing a 30-megawatt hydroelectric dam, one of Nigeria’s early privatized energy projects. Her involvement signals a clear commitment: as she rises globally, she invests locally. She brings the competitiveness of Silicon Valley, the discipline of Harvard and the emotional intelligence of diaspora experience back into Africa’s development landscape.

Her impact also extends to community empowerment. Moving Uncharted Power to Harlem led her to establish the Harlem Tech Fund, designed to nurture startups from underserved communities and train thousands of residents in real-world tech skills. To Matthews, innovation has no value if it doesn’t uplift people.And with every milestone, she reminds Nigerians everywhere that our stories can power the world, literally.