Jessica O. Matthews was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1987 to Nigerian parents. Her upbringing instilled in her a strong connection to her Nigerian heritage and an awareness of the challenges faced by communities lacking basic infrastructure, especially electricity. This early exposure shaped her future entrepreneurial pursuits.

While studying at Harvard University, Matthews and her classmate Julia Silverman conceived the Soccket, a soccer ball that generates and stores electricity as it is played with. This invention was born out of observing the lack of consistent electricity access during a trip to Nigeria. The Soccket provided a portable and playful source of power for lighting and charging small devices, demonstrating the potential of merging recreation with sustainable energy.