This site is intended only for residents of the United States and Canada.
The Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDS Studio, or MDSS) is now accepting applications from startups for our second cohort. We will invite startups to interview with us on a rolling basis, with our final application deadline of August 1, 2023. Cohort 2 will run from October 2023 – July 2024.
The MDS Studio is a 10-month hands-on accelerator program providing mentorship, coaching, training, support, community, and investment to enable the next generation of innovative technologies for drug discovery and development. The MDS Studio will support early-stage startups with direct investment, access to powerful Azure Cloud computing, and opportunities to showcase their technologies in collaboration with discovery and clinical scientists at Merck. Startups developing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications will be prioritized.
We invest in disruptive and innovative startups by offering up to $150,000 via a SAFE plus access to Microsoft's Founders Hub resources, including up to $150,000 in Azure compute credits. The MDS Studio's unique design and network empowers startups to engage with industry leading partners, who take an active role in development.
The MDS Studio is a collaboration between Merck and the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), a New Jersey Institute of Technology corporation, with investments from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Northpond Ventures and McKesson Ventures. Technology support is provided by Microsoft for Startups. The MDS Studio has locations in Newark, NJ and Cambridge, MA.
Application open May 1, 2023
Application Early Action deadline June 15, 2023
Application Final deadline August 1, 2023
Accelerator begins October 2023