# Merck Digital Sciences Studio

Merck Digital Sciences Studio is a Corporate Digital Biopharma Accelerator based in Newark, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Corporate Digital Biopharma Accelerator
- **Headquarters:** Newark, United States
- **Region:** Europe
- **Address:** Newark, NJ, United States
- **Founded:** 2022
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** merckdigitalsciencesstudio.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/merck-digital-sciences-studio

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Merck Digital Sciences Studio is a training program for digital health and biotech startups based in Rahway, New Jersey. The company offers mentorship, coaching, training, support, community, and investment to startups. It has made 46 investments, including a Pre-Seed investment in 9Bio on July 15, 2025.

## Sectors

- AI/ML
- Digital Health
- Enterprise Software

## Offices

- London, United Kingdom
- Durham, NC, United States
- Boston, MA, United States
- New York, NY, United States

## People

- Robert K. Coughlin — Managing Director
- Isaac Barchas — Director

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Merck Digital Sciences Studio?

Robert K. Coughlin is the managing director and has led the Studio since its launch in 2022. Coughlin previously led JLL's life sciences practice globally and brings a real-estate and innovation-district network rather than a traditional venture capital background. He is supported by director Isaac Barchas of Capital Factory, who contributes accelerator-design expertise.

### What do cohort companies actually get beyond the cash investment?

The program provides up to $120,000 in direct investment and $250,000 in Microsoft Azure cloud credits. The structural differentiator is selective access to de-identified Merck proprietary datasets, which startups can use to train and validate AI models. Companies also work with Merck scientists and executives as mentors and receive go-to-market support through the New Jersey Innovation Institute.

### Does Merck Digital Sciences Studio participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

It does not make fund commitments. All deployment is through direct equity investments into individual startups via the accelerator cohort. Merck has not disclosed the instrument used — whether a SAFE or a priced round — but the investment size is standardized per company within each cohort.

## Related profiles

- [Leo Lion](https://altss.com/profile/leo-lion-limited)
- [Flo Works International](https://altss.com/profile/flo-works-international)

---

Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/merck-digital-sciences-studio

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology