Berlin start-up company labfolder, which is developing an electronic lab notebook, has been selected from 475 applicants worldwide to participate in the Merck Accelerator program.
Over the next three months, labfolder will benefit from support, coaching and consulting from Merck as it continues to develop its lab notebook which aims to help researchers around the world manage ever-larger and more complex data sets more efficiently, replacing the traditional paper lab notebook.
Merck is a specialist in healthcare, life science and performance materials, and manufactures liquid crystals for screens, as well as laboratory materials.
Simon Bungers, co-founder and CEO of labfolder, says: “We are thrilled to be included in the program. It not only opens doors for us to the research-based pharmaceuticals industry, but also to the world of laboratory materials manufacturers. This combination within the Merck Group is ideal for labfolder.
“At Merck, they know how to work in the laboratory, but they also know how to design and sell products for laboratories and what those labs need. We are also open to partnerships with laboratory equipment suppliers – such as with our SmartLAB application – and Merck is a great partner for us. They can help us to make our product more attractive from a laboratory supplier’s point of view, and at the same time, they can test our product directly in Merck’s labs from a laboratory user’s perspective.”
Munya Chivasa, head of the Merck Accelerator program, says: “The labfolder team, much like Merck, is focused on developing solutions and products to help researchers succeed. We are excited to work with them through the Accelerator program to explore further developments.”
