Merck Digital Sciences Studio
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersNewark, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Merck Digital Sciences Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Merck Digital Sciences Studio
- Legal name
- Merck & Co., Inc.
- Website
- https://mds.studio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Merck Digital Sciences Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biotech Startup Accelerator
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Captive CVC Fund (Dedicated corporate fund structure) (FSANAHAB), Corporate Deep Tech / R&D Commercialization CVC (FSANAHAL)
Keywords
Where Merck Digital Sciences Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newark
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Merck Digital Sciences Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Equity Investment Returns: MDSS provides $100,000 USD SAFE investment from Merck Global Health Innovation Fund to selected startups in exchange for equity. Returns are realized through portfolio company exits, IPOs, or acquisitions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Accelerator Program Participation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Merck Digital Sciences Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Merck Digital Sciences Studio is a nine-month corporate accelerator program that invests in and supports early-stage startups developing digitally enabled technologies for drug discovery, pre-clinical, and clinical development. Selected startups receive a $100,000 USD SAFE investment from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, personalized mentoring from Merck experts and Centech advisors, structured workshops with industry leaders and investors, and access to a global network of founders, alumni, and corporate innovators.
Product overview
The Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDSS) is a nine-month accelerator program — not a unified software product — that empowers early-stage startups specializing in digitally enabled technologies for drug discovery, pre-clinical, and clinical development. The program offers four integrated components: a $100,000 USD SAFE investment from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, tailored mentoring from experienced mentors including health-sector experts and Merck professionals, structured workshops with industry leaders and investors, and access to a supportive community of founders, alumni, and corporate innovators. MDSS collaborates with regional partners The Venture Collective (United States) and CQDM (Canada) to connect innovators, researchers, and industry leaders to accelerate breakthroughs in health technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Merck Digital Sciences Studio Accelerator Program A nine-month accelerator program that invests in and supports early-stage startups developing digitally enabled technologies for drug discovery, pre-clinical, and clinical development. Selected companies receive a $100,000 USD SAFE investment from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, tailored mentoring from Merck experts and Centech advisors, structured workshops with industry leaders and investors, and access to a supportive cohort community of founders, alumni, and corporate innovators. The program operates annual cohorts (Cohort 2022 through Cohort 2026) with US and Montreal-based selection committees.
Companies that use Merck Digital Sciences Studio
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Merck Digital Sciences Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Merck Digital Sciences Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CentechcoreMontreal-based technology incubator providing personalized mentoring from advisors to selected startups; hosts MDSS Montreal operations and regional selection committee.
- CQDMcoreCanadian partner collaborating on regional operations; supports startup selection and program delivery in Canada alongside Centech.
- The Venture CollectivecoreUS-based regional partner collaborating on program delivery; supports startup selection and ecosystem development in the United States.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Merck Digital Sciences Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS: J&J's flagship life-sciences incubator/accelerator offering mentorship, lab space, and capital to early-stage biotech and digital health startups — directly comparable to MDSS as a pharma-led corporate accelerator targeting similar founder profiles.
- Pfizer Healthcare Hub: Pfizer's accelerator-style programs partnering with health-tech and biotech startups globally; shares MDSS's pharma-sponsored accelerator structure and digital health focus.
- Boehringer Ingelheim opnMe / BI X: Boehringer Ingelheim's open innovation and digital lab initiatives providing funding, data, and collaboration opportunities to early-stage biotech and digital health startups — analogous to MDSS in pharma-led accelerator model.
- AstraZeneca BioVentureHub: AstraZeneca's onsite incubator hosting biotech and digital health companies at its R&D sites; offers corporate access and tailored collaborations comparable to MDSS's Merck expert engagement model.
- Bayer G4A / Bayer CoLaborator: Bayer's digital health accelerator and life-sciences co-working lab, providing funding, mentorship, and corporate access to early-stage digital health and biotech startups — operates with a similar pharma-CVC accelerator thesis to MDSS.
- Eli Lilly Catalyze360: Eli Lilly's recently launched external innovation platform offering capital, lab space, and collaboration across early-stage biotech, digital health, and therapeutics startups — a direct competitor to MDSS for top-tier digital biopharma founders.
- Novartis Biome: Novartis's digital health innovation hub connecting health-tech startups with Novartis resources; comparable to MDSS as a pharma-led accelerator targeting digital health and biotech founders.
- Roche Pharma Partnering / Innovation Programs: Roche's partnering and innovation initiatives that invest in and partner with early-stage biotech and digital health startups; comparable to MDSS as a major-pharma-led CVC/accelerator channel.
Emerging players
- Centech (Montreal): Montreal-based deep-tech incubator that is itself a core operational partner of MDSS; comparable as a regional startup accelerator serving early-stage science and tech founders, including health/biotech verticals.
Broad incumbents
- Amgen Ventures: Amgen's corporate venture capital arm investing in therapeutics, digital health, and biotech startups; broader and more established than MDSS but operates in the same pharma CVC landscape.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Merck Digital Sciences Studio social profiles
Digital presenceMerck Digital Sciences Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Merck Digital Sciences Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Merck Digital Sciences Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Merck Digital Sciences Studio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments20 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Merck Digital Sciences Studio
What does Merck Digital Sciences Studio do?
Merck Digital Sciences Studio is a nine-month corporate accelerator program that invests in and supports early-stage startups developing digitally enabled technologies for drug discovery, pre-clinical, and clinical development. Selected startups receive a $100,000 USD SAFE investment from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, personalized mentoring from Merck experts and Centech advisors, structured workshops with industry leaders and investors, and access to a global network of founders, alumni, and corporate innovators.
Is Merck Digital Sciences Studio a public or private company?
Merck Digital Sciences Studio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Merck Digital Sciences Studio founded?
Merck Digital Sciences Studio was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Merck Digital Sciences Studio based?
Merck Digital Sciences Studio is headquartered in Newark, United States, in the North America region.
How does Merck Digital Sciences Studio make money?
One revenue line is on record: equity Investment Returns.
Who are Merck Digital Sciences Studio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS, Pfizer Healthcare Hub, Boehringer Ingelheim opnMe / BI X, AstraZeneca BioVentureHub, Bayer G4A / Bayer CoLaborator, Eli Lilly Catalyze360, Novartis Biome and Roche Pharma Partnering / Innovation Programs. Centech (Montreal) is listed as an emerging player. Amgen Ventures is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Merck Digital Sciences Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Merck Digital Sciences Studio.
What industry is Merck Digital Sciences Studio in?
Merck Digital Sciences Studio's product category is Biotech Startup Accelerator. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs, with a secondary code of FSANAHAB, Captive CVC Fund (Dedicated corporate fund structure).