Organization · Accelerator
Merck Digital Sciences Studio
The Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDSS) is a corporate accelerator program that supports early-stage startups in digital health and biotech. It provides funding, mentorship, and access to Merck's extensive network to foster innovation in drug discovery and clinical development.
Overview
What Merck Digital Sciences Studio does
What Merck Digital Sciences Studio is
The Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDSS) is a corporate accelerator program that supports early-stage startups in digital health and biotech. It provides funding, mentorship, and access to Merck's extensive network to foster innovation in drug discovery and clinical development.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Accelerator
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host
- Last reviewed
- March 27, 2026
What Accelerator means
An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Merck Digital Sciences Studio elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Merck Digital Sciences Studio as a funder
Investment thesis
The Merck Digital Sciences Studio focuses on supporting early-stage startups that leverage digitally enabled technologies for drug discovery and clinical development, aiming to accelerate innovation in health technology.
Focus narrative
MDSS invests in early-stage startups that develop technologies for drug discovery and clinical development. The program offers a $150,000 SAFE investment from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, along with additional resources such as Microsoft Azure credits and mentorship from industry experts.
Value beyond capital
MDSS provides startups with a unique combination of funding, mentorship, and access to Merck's extensive resources and expertise in the pharmaceutical industry. This support helps startups navigate the complexities of drug development and accelerates their path to market.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $100,000–$150,000
- Sweet spot
- $150,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Accelerator
- Regions
- CanadaUnited States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 36
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies include: Altis Labs: Accelerating clinical development with AI to improve patient access to treatments. Onc.AI: Enhancing clarity in cancer treatment decision-making and pharmaceutical clinical development. 9Bio Therapeutics: Engineering next-generation cancer therapies by reprogramming proteins to selectively target tumors. MISO Chip: Utilizing functional precision medicine to reduce clinical trial failures. Nanofacile: Accelerating RNA therapy development for improved results. PCare+: Implementing AI-enabled pipelines for precision preventive care. Rime Therapeutics: Targeting inflammation and immunology with next-generation therapies. Simmunome: Developing a no-code SaaS platform for AI-driven disease simulations. Stereo Biotherapeutics: Enhancing the efficacy of small-format soluble TCRs for disease treatment. Augment Biologics: Transforming biologic drug development through glycobiology discoveries.
Capability profile
Merck Digital Sciences Studio as a program host
Program thesis
The Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDSS) is an accelerator program aimed at supporting early-stage startups focused on digitally enabled technologies for drug discovery and clinical development.
Focus narrative
MDSS invests in early-stage startups that develop technologies for drug discovery and clinical development. The program offers a $100,000 SAFE investment from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, in collaboration with regional partners such as The Venture Collective in the United States and CQDM in Canada. The focus is on fostering innovation in health technology through mentoring, workshops, and community support.
Value and support
MDSS provides funding, mentorship, and access to a global network, along with workshops and community support to help startups innovate in health technology.
Terms and economics
- Indicative investment
- $100,000
Format and cadence
- Typical duration
- 36 weeks
- Typical cohort
- 12 companies
- Format
- Hybrid
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Accelerator · Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- CanadaUnited States
Alumni and track record
- Last recorded cohort
- December 1, 2024
Alumni context
Notable portfolio companies include Altis Labs, Onc.AI, 9Bio Therapeutics, MISO Chip, Nanofacile, PCare+, Rime Therapeutics, Simmunome, Stereo Biotherapeutics, and Augment Biologics.
Common questions
What to know about Merck Digital Sciences Studio
Upseed classifies Merck Digital Sciences Studio under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and program host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.