How Jessica Matthews’ Soccket Ball is Lighting Up the World—And Redefining Innovation
What if a child’s soccer game could power a lamp for homework? Or a jump rope could charge a phone? For Jessica Matthews, this isn’t science fiction—it’s reality. The Nigerian-American inventor, entrepreneur, and Harvard graduate has spent over a decade merging play with purpose, creating ground-breaking clean energy solutions that empower underserved communities. Her journey from a dorm room at Harvard to the White House is a masterclass in ingenuity, resilience, and the power of thinking outside the box.
The spark for Jessica’s most famous invention—the Soccket ball—came during a visit to Nigeria for her aunt’s wedding. There, she experienced the all-too-familiar frustration of erratic power cuts and the roar of diesel generators. The toxic fumes and unbearable noise made her realize the solution could be as simple as a soccer ball. In 2008, as a Harvard undergrad, Jessica and classmate Julia Silverman designed the Soccket—a soccer ball that converts kinetic energy into electricity. The brilliance of the design lies in its simplicity: thirty minutes of play generates three hours of LED light, offering children in off-grid communities a safer, sustainable way to study after dark.
This invention matters deeply because it addresses multiple challenges at once. It’s healthier, replacing dangerous kerosene lamps that cause respiratory illnesses. It’s empowering, keeping kids engaged in sports while solving energy poverty. And it’s scalable, having inspired a suite of kinetic energy products like the Pulse jump rope, which generates three hours of power from just fifteen minutes of jumping.
Jessica’s invention became the foundation for Uncharted Power, her company dedicated to reimagining infrastructure through motion. Their technology transforms everyday objects—from floor tiles to strollers to sidewalks—into mini power plants. The company’s journey has been marked by significant milestones: a 2012 invitation from President Obama to represent small businesses at the America Invents Act signing, a record-breaking $7 million Series A funding round in 2016 (the largest by a Black female founder at the time), and Jessica’s 2021 appointment to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee.
While the original Soccket ball was discontinued in 2016 after reaching 500,000 users globally, its legacy continues to inspire. Uncharted Power has since pivoted to focus on large-scale infrastructure solutions for smart cities and renewable energy grids, proving that Jessica’s vision extends far beyond a single product.
What makes Jessica particularly remarkable is her mind-set—a unique blend of creativity, tenacity, and humour that she describes as “Beyoncé meets Bill Nye.” Her journey offers valuable lessons for aspiring innovators: solve problems you’ve experienced first-hand, embrace the hustle (she worked at CrowdTap after graduation to fund her start-up dreams), and own your identity unapologetically. As a Black woman in tech, she’s shattered countless ceilings while lifting others up along the way.
The impact of Jessica’s work has earned her global recognition, including spots on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and Fortune’s 40 Under 40 lists, Harvard University’s Scientist of the Year honour, and features in major publications from The New York Times to Fast Company. Perhaps most impressively, her patents have influenced tech giants like IBM, Intel, and Sony—demonstrating how grassroots innovation can shape entire industries.
Behind these professional achievements lies a relatable personal story. Jessica always dreamed of being an inventor (“I thought I’d build flying cars”), drew inspiration from her parents’ software business, and takes particular pride in quirky creations like the Pulse jump rope. This human dimension makes her story especially compelling—she’s not just a brilliant engineer but someone who maintains her curiosity and sense of fun while tackling serious global challenges.
Jessica Matthews embodies the future of socially conscious technology. Her work is inclusive by design, prioritizing marginalized communities often overlooked by traditional tech solutions. It’s sustainable, tapping into the largely unexploited potential of kinetic energy. And above all, it’s inspiring—living proof that passion combined with purpose can create world-changing impact.
As we consider Jessica’s legacy so far, it’s worth asking ourselves: how might we approach problems in our own communities with similar creativity? Would we use a Soccket ball or Pulse rope if available? What other everyday activities could be harnessed to solve real-world challenges? These are the kinds of questions Jessica’s work inspires us to ask—and answer—as we imagine a more innovative, equitable future.
Jessica’s story reminds us that the most powerful solutions often come from unexpected places. Whether it’s a soccer game that lights up a village or a jump rope that charges a phone, her inventions prove that with enough imagination, even play can become a force for change. In a world facing complex challenges, we could all benefit from thinking a bit more like Jessica Matthews—turning the energy around us, quite literally, into power for good.
