Meet Jessica, Nigerian-American Inventor Behind Energy-Generating Soccer Ball

Jessica O. Matthews is a Nigerian-American inventor and entrepreneur known for creating the SOCCKET, a soccer ball that generates electricity while being played with. This simple but powerful idea allows children in areas with limited electricity to have light for studying after dark.

Jessica came up with the idea as a college student after witnessing power outages in Nigeria. She later founded Uncharted Power, a company that develops energy solutions using motion and infrastructure. 

Her work has earned her recognition from world leaders, including an invitation to the White House by President Barack Obama.

Beyond SOCCKET, Jessica has worked on projects that use roads, sidewalks, and even shopping carts to generate and store energy. She believes innovation should be practical and improve everyday life. With degrees from Harvard and a long list of awards, she continues to push boundaries in renewable energy and smart infrastructure.

What you should know about SOCCKET

SOCCKET was a unique soccer ball designed to generate and store electricity while being played with. The idea was to provide a simple, fun way to create energy in places with unreliable power. 

After kicking it around for about 30 minutes, the ball could store enough energy to power a small LED light for hours.

How it started and how it worked

SOCCKET was invented by a group of Harvard students, including Jessica O. Matthews, Julia Silverman, and their team. It was created as part of a project to find alternative energy solutions for communities with limited electricity access. The ball was later developed by Uncharted Play, a company co-founded by Matthews.

Inside the SOCCKET was a small generator that converted motion into energy. As the ball rolled, it stored power in an internal battery, which could then be used to charge small devices like lamps.

It’s challenges and discontinuation

While SOCCKET was widely praised for its innovative design, some users reported that the ball broke easily after a few uses. Over time, Uncharted Play shifted its focus from energy-generating sports equipment to broader infrastructure solutions. By 2016, SOCCKET was discontinued.

Even though SOCCKET is no longer in production, its impact remains. It inspired further conversations about how everyday activities can be used to generate power, especially in underserved communities.