Ten years ago, Steve Barnett helped put Elk Grove’s startup scene on the map when he launched InnoGrove, the city’s first innovation community and coworking space. Since then, he’s balanced running Barnett Technical Services, mentoring other founders, and now launching his latest venture, Soar Optics—winner of Best Elk Grove Startup at this year’s Pitch Elk Grove.
For more than two decades, Steve has been at the forefront of optical sensing innovation. With Soar Optics, he’s taking that expertise into a critical new arena: detecting and identifying microplastics faster and more accurately than ever before. As plastic pollution continues to threaten waterways and ecosystems, his company aims to bring cutting-edge science directly into the field to support rapid environmental decision-making.
Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Founding Story and Inspiration
You have a long and impressive career in optical sensor technologies. What inspired you to make the leap from consulting and distribution into launching Soar Optics as a startup?
Steve: In 2018, we participated in a global study on detecting microplastics in drinking water. That work helped lead to new regulations, but the current methods remain slow, expensive, and not as accurate as needed. We had been developing a new detection technology and realized it could enable faster, more cost-effective microplastics analysis.
Can you share the moment when you realized that detecting and analyzing microplastics could become a meaningful focus for your company?
Steve: We saw that this technology needed its own structure for growth, so we formed Soar Optics. Our experience at the Cleantech Open, where we were named a Western Regional Winner, was a major validation that we were on the right track.
Journey as a Founder
You have successfully led several ventures over the years, including Barnett Technical Services and InnoGrove. How has your experience running those organizations influenced how you built Soar Optics?
Steve: I have learned that it is important to look at the little things in addition to the big picture. You can easily fall into the trap of doing something that “feels good” but when you really crunch the numbers and do the analysis, it doesn’t make sense. This has been critical in the development and growth of Barnett Technical Services, InnoGrove, and Soar Optics. I’ve definitely made some errors along the way, but this process allows me to see where we really should and should not go, and where a mistake was made, the damage was limited.
Starting a new company after years of experience in the field must come with unique challenges. What have you found most different about this phase of your entrepreneurial journey?
Steve: More than anything else, the challenges come from balancing my activities with Soar Optics, the activities of my other two companies, and balancing all that with my personal life. I do realize that at some point, I will need to hand over the other two companies to others to run so I can focus on Soar Optics.
Challenges and Milestones
What were some of the biggest hurdles you faced while developing Soar Optics technology, and how did you navigate them?
Steve: “Invariably, one of our biggest hurdles has been the need to bootstrap much of our work to date. Fundraising is always a chicken and egg game – how far do you develop something before looking for funding? I must admit I tend to err on the side of being conservative, perhaps too conservative. I always want to develop things further before searching for funding and that is a fault I am constantly fighting – sometimes it’s time to just go out with what you have developed and search for the funding that will allow for further (and faster) developments!
Winning Best of Elk Grove at Pitch Elk Grove is a major achievement. What did that recognition mean for you and your team?
Steve: Winning the Best of Elk Grove at Pitch Elk Grove provided further validation that we are on the right path and that we can communicate our vision to those outside our field.
Vision and Innovation
How has your vision for Soar Optics evolved since its founding, and what excites you most about where it is headed?
Steve: Invariably, we always need to fight the need to not “boil the ocean.” The technology we are developing has applications for microplastics monitoring, but it can also be used in other fields. I have one large company who wants us to use our technology to analyze some of their battery materials, and this could lead to a whole range of other high-value products for Soar Optics. At some point we will likely try out some test measurements for that application, but not in a manner that will slow down our work on the microplastics monitoring.
You have spent decades advancing optical science. How do you see technologies like FTIR and Raman analysis shaping the future of environmental monitoring?
Steve: These two techniques have been around for decades, but have often been used in the lab. There are now products using these technologies that can be brought into the field for on-site analysis. Our technology is an extension of this work. Right now, a microplastics analysis requires a sample to be brought to a lab where the analysis takes hours (if not days). With our technology, I can imagine an environmental scientist take a water sample, putting it into a system containing our technology, and having useful results in 15 minutes. This type of on-site analysis is very valuable in the environmental sciences as well as in other industrial fields.
Leadership and Lessons
You wear multiple hats as a founder, CEO, and community leader. What lessons have you learned about balancing innovation with leadership and mentorship?
Steve: Innovation is exciting, but we always need to ask what real value we are creating. Technical people often struggle to see alternatives or limits to their ideas, so communication becomes critical. You can develop something worthy of a Nobel Prize, but if you cannot explain it to others, it has no impact.
As a leader, I try to stay humble and recognize both my strengths and weaknesses, and help others do the same. Mentorship is about showing people, especially those early in their careers, that they do have value. As they gain experience, their knowledge and confidence grow.
What advice would you give to other scientists or engineers who are thinking about turning their research into a business?
Steve: As I said, many scientists and engineers get stuck in their silo of developing their technology and having other scientists and engineers say their work is great. Their work may be great in their field, but it is critical to speak with others in industry and in other fields to really assess the value of any technology that is being developed. Sadly, most new technologies will be difficult to implement into a successful product. It is important to realize that early rather than go down a long path that will not be successful. However, when you do find that gold nugget that could be valuable, this provides the extra energy that is needed to develop the research into a viable business!
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