Matthew Wallace

Matt Wallace is a mission‑driven technology entrepreneur and economic‑development strategist who has spent more than 15 years building practical, scalable solutions for the world’s overlooked small‑business owners.

Today, as co‑founder and CEO of ONOW Ascent Inc., Matt's primary effort is in the development of a portfolio of AI‑powered products that make sophisticated financial tools accessible to micro‑ and small enterprises across Southeast Asia and Sub‑Saharan Africa. Under his leadership, ONOW Ascent’s chat‑based financial assistant, bookkeeping tracker, and growth analytics dashboard will serve more than 25,000 entrepreneurs over the next year, translating complex concepts such as working‑capital cycles and credit readiness into the everyday language of street‑side vendors, shoemakers, and fish farmers.

Matt’s approach is shaped by deep, on‑the‑ground experience. After moving to Myanmar in 2008, he spearheaded the build of the country’s first mobile‑based financial‑literacy programs, while mentoring thousands of first‑generation entrepreneurs navigating Myanmar’s opening economy. His field teams remained active during periods of political upheaval and continue to serve nearly 1000 young entrepreneurs per year.

Partnership is a through‑line in Matt’s work. He has designed and delivered projects with UN Women, UNCDF, Youth Business International, Google.org, International Finance Corp, and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs. He has secured competitive grants from the USAID, and led multi‑stakeholder consortia that pair local entrepreneurship support organizations with cutting‑edge AI infrastructure.

As an operator, Matt has raised pre‑seed capital for ONOW Ascent, and has overseen equity issuances through Carta, while navigating SAFE and convertible‑note structures. He works closely with legal counsel to build investor‑ready governance and has advised peer founders on cap‑table hygiene and cross‑border regulatory compliance.

Drawing on his lived experience in running accounting and tax in his three ventures, Matt helps entrepreneurs establish financial controls that satisfy both local regulators and international investors. He has created digital training curricula adopted by regional microfinance banks and piloted a WhatsApp‑based “finance coach” across multiple markets.

Beyond his startup roles, Matt serves as a Trustee at Youth Business International, a member of the Miller Center for Global Impact alumni advisory council, a member of the Regional Advisory Committee of the ESEAsia Chapter of Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, and mentors emerging founders through the Global Entrepreneurship Network and Founder Institute ecosystems. As a speaker, he has addressed audiences from the ANDE Global Conference and the YBI Global Summit, to grassroots business collectives, consistently advocating for both the adoption of a gender lens in business support, and technology in scaling high touch entrepreneurship promotion, while respecting context, language, and human dignity.

Originally from the United States and now based in Indianapolis, Matt continues to split his time between the Midwest and project sites in Asia and Africa. Whether negotiating a data‑sharing agreement with a regional bank, strategizing with rural entrepreneurs, brainstorming pathways for a creative‑writing career with his wife, or planning the next hiking adventure with his two sons, he stays anchored to a core belief: when entrepreneurs at the edge of the formal economy gain the right knowledge, tools, and trust, they unlock prosperity that lifts entire communities.

Areas of focus: AI for small‑business growth, inclusive finance, social entrepreneurship, market‑based poverty alleviation, cross‑cultural venture building, ethical leadership, partnership development.