Staff Member
Matthew Wallace
CEO and Co-Founder, Opportunities Now

Social entrepreneur. Creating tech-touch approaches that help migrant and refugee women launch and succeed in business. Passionate about entrepreneurship that facilitates just systems and serves those at the margins. Scaling small business support and financial inclusion globally. Artificial Intelligence obviously has a role to play, and Matt is at the forefront of solving that challenge!

Most recently, Matt co-founded ONOW Ascent Inc., which leverages AI and advanced data insights to deliver highly scalable, secure, and personalized solutions for small businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. This new venture empowers financial service providers and social enterprises to manage risk, streamline operations, and extend critical financial inclusion to underserved markets. With a foundation in both tech and design based in 15 years of working directly with small businesses, ONOW Ascent is focused on pushing the boundaries of how technology can truly serve those at the margins and create lasting, positive change in global markets.

15 years in Southeast Asia, working in entrepreneurship and economic development. Built ONOW into an organization that delivers scalable but deep support.
1000+ small business launches.
12,000+ entrepreneurs coached.
80,000+ MSMEs supported.
350,000 digital users.
Now deploying powerful applied AI tools to extend access to vital services for MSMEs.

Highly experienced in using market-based strategies to surface, deploy and sustain impact initiatives, especially at the frontier of enabling technology. Social entrepreneurship and tech for good are the way to reduce poverty in our world!

Serves as advisory, board and trustee at three leading global networks of livelihoods and social entrepreneurship. MA in Diplomacy and International Commerce, focused on Economic Development. 2020 Miller Center GSBI Accelerator alum. Recipient of the 2019 University of Illinois Alumni Humanitarian Award.