Drexel College of Arts and Sciences alum Paige DeAngelo '23, founder and CEO of sustainable mascara brand — Aer Cosmetics
Before graduating from Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences, Paige DeAngelo '23 launched a sustainability-minded cosmetics startup producing mascara that is affordable, accessible and reduces the carbon footprint of the beauty industry. DeAngelo was selected for the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship's Entrepreneurship Co-op (housed in the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business), which gives students funding to be their own boss and develop their own company.
DeAngelo spent six months working on every aspect of her fledgling business, trying, failing and learning from expert faculty mentors to develop her signature product — a water-soluble, vegan, cruelty-free mascara tablet that comes in a refillable tube.
As she took her product from a dream to reality, DeAngelo worked hard to win funding for her company Aer Cosmetics, which launched during the same summer she graduated from Drexel. Now, she's sharing her experience.
Q: What did you learn about yourself and the world through your Drexel experience?
A: Drexel taught me that resilience and resourcefulness will take you further than perfection ever will. I learned how to navigate uncertainty, think creatively under pressure and lean into my curiosity instead of fear. The world isn't linear — neither is entrepreneurship, and my time at Drexel helped me embrace that. I discovered that I'm most alive when I'm building something that doesn't yet exist, and that change is an opportunity, not a setback.
Q: How has your time at Drexel had a lasting impact on you as well as others?
A: My time at Drexel completely changed the trajectory of my life. I became the person I didn't even know I wanted to be: an inventor, an entrepreneur and someone deeply committed to sustainability. Drexel gave me the space to fail, explore and discover myself through the co-op program and the incredible network of entrepreneurial resources.
It was because of an application for the Close School's Entrepreneurship Co-op that I invented the dissolvable mascara tablet and built my company, Aer Cosmetics, from a dorm room project into a full-time company with employees, customers and a growing global mission. The impact started with me learning resilience, creativity and self-trust, but it has grown into something much bigger. Aer is focused on reducing cosmetic waste and lowering the carbon footprint caused by packaging and production across the beauty industry.
The Drexel ecosystem didn't just give me the tools to start a business. It also gave me the clarity to understand why I wanted to build one. And now, through Aer and mentoring current Drexel students, I get to continue that cycle of impact and innovation.
Q: What was a uniquely-Drexel moment that shifted how you think or what you wanted to do in the future?
A: When I started at Drexel, I was a meteorology and journalism major. During the pandemic, when it was time for my second co-op, opportunities in my field were extremely limited. I knew what I loved to do, but I didn't know how to piece it together in a virtual setting. Then I came across the Drexel Entrepreneurship Co-op questionnaire (on the Startup Tree platform), and that single moment changed everything.
My studies had already opened my eyes to the importance of sustainability, and as a Division I dancer constantly going through makeup for game days, I recognized a problem that needed solving. That questionnaire helped me realize where my passion truly was. I shared my idea for a refillable mascara system with my adviser, who introduced me to the Close School of Entrepreneurship. Within two weeks of exploring the Close School's resources, I had built a physical prototype, secured my first $15,000 grant, and was standing on stage as a wildcard finalist pitching in front of a room full of seasoned entrepreneurs.
I was awarded second place, which became the beginning of bootstrapping my company. Throughout my time at Drexel, I raised more than $75,000 in grants and learned that anyone can start something meaningful; you just have to begin (and being at Drexel helps). I entered college unsure of what I wanted to do, but Drexel helped me connect my passion with my purpose. Now, I feel like I won the lottery — I get to do what I love every day while helping the planet at the same time!
Q: What advice would you give someone who is starting their Drexel journey?
A: Say yes, even when you're scared. The best opportunities won't always look perfect at first, and you'll never feel 100% ready. Drexel is built for doers, so take advantage of every co-op, every competition, every late-night idea session. The network you build and the risks you take here will shape who you become far beyond graduation. When they say things get real after you graduate, they aren't kidding. Take advantage of the resources you have now while they're there. If you mess up, fail or change your mind, even better. You're in an environment that encourages that and will help use that information to lead you where you're meant to be.
Q: Is there anything else the world should know about your Drexel experience?
A: At Drexel, you get every opportunity to explore, experience, fail and succeed before even stepping out into the "real world." That time is so valuable. You learn so much about yourself at a faster rate than any other university experience. The real world doesn't start when you toss your cap — at Drexel, it begins during Welcome Week. Figure it out while you have the unique vulnerability of these four or five years. Your future self will thank you.
I often wonder who I'd be if I had gone to another school and continued my meteorology and journalism studies throughout undergrad. It's hard to imagine not creating this company, this community and all the experiences I've had so far. I feel incredibly lucky to have done so. Thank you, Drexel, for guiding me toward the person I always wanted to become, before I even knew it myself.