SEED Biosciences and Xsensio join Merck Accelerator

The 8th edition of the Merck Accelerator attracted more than 503 applications from science and technology companies across 65 countries. A jury team comprising more than 200 Merck experts nominated 12 most outstanding companies to participate in the three-month program. Represented countries are Denmark, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Taiwan, the United States, France and Switzerland with Seed Bioscience and Xsensio.

SEED Biosciences is a biotech startup developing a compact pipetting robot (DispenCell) to enable scientists to precisely isolate single cells three times faster than existing solutions. Single-cell isolation is a critical enabling step in many biological processes, including the production of biologics, cancer diagnosis, stem cell therapies and personalized medicine. 

Xsensio, on the other hand, is a medtech startup whose product, Lab-on-Skin, is a miniature embeddable chip that has the capability to sense continuously and in real-time a broad range of biochemical parameters in sweat at the surface of the skin, from electrolytes and metabolites to hormones and proteins, with the precision of blood test. Designed to be integrated into next-generation skin patches, wristbands or smartwatches, the chip will address a wide range of health and wellness applications in sports, wellness, elderly care and medical.

Over the next three months, the two startups and each of their peers will receive individual support and coaching from experts within the Merck network, as well as up to €50,000 in funding and the opportunity to join the Merck China Innovation Hub in Shanghai for an extension of the program. 

(Press release/ran)