Adrien Augé, co-founder of Mussofi

After earning an engineering degree, Adrien Augé resumed his studies by enrolling in the Master’s in Management and Business Administration (MAE) at IAE Pau-Bayonne, UPPA, from 2024 to 2025. This program, taken alongside the French National Student-Entrepreneur Status (SNEE), was essential for the development of Mussofi, his brand of natural cosmetics for Black, mixed-race and darker skin tones, developed in France and sold in pharmacies.

You are a graduate of UPPA… What program did you follow and why?

I resumed my studies with the Master’s in Management and Business Administration (MAE) at UPPA, five years after obtaining an engineering degree in agricultural and food product processing. My background was originally quite technical. My parents were farmers and I initially pursued a work-study program in the agri-food sector. At that time, my goal was to transform farm products, and I eventually completed an engineering degree at ENSMAC within Bordeaux INP. I then worked in this sector. Returning to study at IAE Pau-Bayonne supported the early stages of my entrepreneurial journey, which was initially very technical. Today, I have outsourced the technical part and my daily work focuses more on management, marketing, communication, accounting and project management. The MAE program at UPPA addressed the need for these skills. I was particularly interested in doing my internship within the company I created. This allowed me to directly apply the theoretical skills I learned. I joined IAE Pau-Bayonne in September 2024 and graduated in September 2025. My path is one of dual expertise: first technical following my engineering degree, and then managerial with the MAE program.

What is the added value of the program and the National Student-Entrepreneur Status (SNEE) – IAE?

From a theoretical and academic perspective, the professional lecturers provided me with many new skills in marketing, management, accounting and project management, which also enriched me personally. Today, I apply their teachings almost daily. The real added value came from being able, after my first professional experiences, to question my lecturers and receive immediate, concrete answers. It was truly fascinating. When I joined IAE Pau-Bayonne, I discovered the National Student-Entrepreneur Status during an introductory day. This opportunity was very valuable because it supported both the creation of my company and my return to studies. This program was perfectly suited to my project and now allows me to have an office and mentoring. I also met other student entrepreneurs, which was very enriching. UPPA also offered me a great opportunity to present my project by pitching in front of a full lecture hall last June. I also participated in one of their bootcamps, which stimulated momentum around my project and exchanges with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The added value of this path was that it gave me concrete experience and real support in creating my company.

At what point did you create your company?

Before graduating. It mainly resulted from meeting my friend Nadia during our agri-food BTS program. Our complementary partnership always worked well. We wanted to build an entrepreneurial project but had not yet defined the field. One day, Nadia, who is of Cameroonian origin, told me she suffered from acne. On darker skin tones, acne can cause hyperpigmentation. Melanin becomes unbalanced and creates spots. She used many toxic products and spent a lot of money. We realized there were very few natural products available on the market for darker and mixed skin tones. We decided to enter this emerging market by creating Mussofi (“black woman” in a West African language), working with a formulation laboratory in Bordeaux and Cosméfab, a cosmetics production plant in Mourenx. Our anti-spot products are 90% natural and rated 100 on the Yuka app. What led me to resume my studies was the need to convince clients. I wanted to strengthen my skills, and having a theoretical foundation reassured me greatly.

What memories do you have of these two years on the UPPA campus?

Very good memories. The lecturers were attentive, and exchanges with my classmates — some of whom were also returning to study — and with other student entrepreneurs were very enriching. IAE is a small, almost family-like structure. The setting was also very pleasant. I also appreciated returning home after studying in Bordeaux.

Can you associate 2 or 3 words with UPPA? A highlight? An anecdote?

Closeness, support, academic and technical excellence. And the very high quality of teaching. The highlight for me was when they gave me the opportunity to pitch my project last June. I presented Mussofi as part of UPPA’s relationships and support with the business world. I spoke as a student entrepreneur alongside doctoral students who had founded their companies and other alumni. It was an impressive moment and I received a very warm welcome. It is an excellent memory.

What message would you give to a young person considering joining a program at UPPA? And to a recent graduate finishing their studies?

Meeting people who listened carefully to my background was decisive in my choice of UPPA. It reassured me in my decision to resume my studies. I advise young people considering UPPA to dare to ask all their questions. At the end of their studies, I encourage them to stay in contact with the alumni community and to request to be listed in the alumni network. This program represented a real foundation and support for launching my project, as well as effective support during and after my studies. Unlike some other campuses, they take the time to listen to students’ needs.

Interview by Séverine Cuesta 

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Master’s degree in Management and Business Administration  

Mussofi