Merck is looking to partner with 20 healthtech startups in new programme

Merck has launched a joint startup programme, which will give 20 top healthtech startups an opportunity to partner with the German science and tech firm.

The programme, which Merck has launched in partnership with tech initiative Make-IT in Africa, includes three focus areas, namely: digital solutions in the health sector, liquid biopsy technologies and bio-sensing and interfaces.

Applications close on 17 July. Selection interviews will then take place between 11 and 18 July. Thereafter, there will be a bootcamp in Nairobi which will take place between 5 and 10 August.

The application deadline for Merck’s Joint Startup Programme is 17 July

Up to five startups each will be selected from the North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and Southern Africa regions.

To be considered for the programme, startups must be registered in an African country, have a minimum of two co-founders and must have been operating for at least one year.

Ventures with a business model that focuses on the UN’s sustainable development goals and have a solution in the fields of healthcare, life sciences and performance will also be considered.

Startups selected for the programme will benefit from access to Make-IT in Africa’s network as well as investor meetups and business opportunities.

In addition, three meetups in each focus region will be conducted to connect finalists with a community of founders and innovators going through the same challenges.

Other benefits of the programme include:

• Fully-paid bootcamp in Nairobi for top 20 startups to ideate and develop business cases for collaboration with Merck
• Continuous business support, technical support and online mentoring and coaching
• Scale-Up diagnostics and design for scale training
• Exhibition space at the SA Innovation Summit in Cape Town for the top four finalists
• A demo day at Merck in South Africa for the top four finalists
• Exhibition space at the Medica conference in Dusseldorf, Germany for top the top four finalists
• A fully paid trip for the top four finalists to the Merck Innovation Centre in Darmstadt, Germany to pitch for a collaboration project with Merck

Learn more about the programme’s focus areas and how to apply here.

Featured image: Joel Kelly via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)