Today's Entrepreneur: Natasha Soleil

Meliza Solan Surdi · March 3, 2011 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/17ab

No. 1 mistake: Waiting too long on others instead of grabbing the opportunity

Entrepreneurs often choose the path of innovation, without realizing the kind of lifestyle that comes with it. They will often live unstable lives.

But as they courageously take risks, they'll make several mistakes which become valuable lessons for the rest of us.

They have their ups and downs. But at the end of the day, these creative daredevils are the ones who are changing the world.

We recently created new profiles for our Vator members to share their story. So if you are a first-time, serial, or even an aspiring entrepreneur, we'd like to hear from you.

Today's entrepreneur is Natasha Soleil, CEO and founder of Soleil Mobile and PINK JUNCTION, a social network for women. According to her VEQ, she is good at technology design, networking, and product development.

I Am: An Entrepreneur

Name companies you've founded or co-founded:

Soleil PR, Soleil Mobile, Pink Junction

Name companies you've invested in:

Pink Junction and Soleil Mobile

Name startups you worked for:

Mixman Technologies, Estudio now Blitz and 15 more. Call me for the full list.

If you are an entrepreneur, why?

I want to invent something cool.

List your favorite startups:

facebook

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?

I love taking an idea and sketching out the functions and its very rewarding when my Pink Junction members are using it. What's frustrating is tech issues....ugh. You fix one thing and something else needs adjustment. It never ends...and sometimes what takes one day to develop always seem to stretch out to 3 or 5 days.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make?

I waited on an investor for 9 months...and I missed my opportunity to launch a mobile app. and be one of the first apps. iphone. I should have just developed my ideas with small funds or my savings instead of waiting on an investor.

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?

1. Never believe anyone until the agreement is signed or the check is cashed into your bank.

2. No free lunch. I tend to be polite and the next thing I know I'm having lunch with a powerful executive or well known person and they just want to suck information from me in return for an expensive lunch. Just skip the lunches and enjoy a phone conversation or coffee at Starbucks.

3. Don't wait to close a deal with a company...build your idea and then license it to them. That was my biggest lesson. I met with Oprah's top executives and the VP Marketing at Martha Stewart Living pitching mobile apps. in 2007 and 2008 ...I was too early. they came out with apps. in 2010....I should have developed my own app. earlier then include them. At the end I do have a successful app. called Soleil Organics on iphone and Android but, its not a cash cow.