Who Are the World’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaires Behind AI Startup Mercor – Brendan Foody, Indian-American Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha? | 📲 LatestLY

Three 22-year-old entrepreneurs — Brendan Foody, Indian-American Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha — have reportedly become the world’s youngest self-made billionaires after founding the artificial intelligence startup Mercor. Their rise places them ahead of the previous record holder, Mark Zuckerberg, who reached billionaire status at age 23 in 2008, marking a notable moment in the fast-evolving AI sector.

What Is Mercor?

Mercor is an AI-focused recruitment and talent platform that supports major Silicon Valley labs and companies in training and scaling artificial intelligence models. Launched in 2023, the company was founded by CEO Brendan Foody, CTO Adarsh Hiremath, and Board Chairman Surya Midha. Mercor initially set out to connect highly skilled engineers — particularly from India — with U.S. firms seeking freelance and project-based coding talent. Its rapid growth has turned the trio into some of the most closely watched new leaders in tech.

Funding, Valuation, and Billionaire Status

According to reports, Mercor recently closed a funding round of approximately USD 350 million led by Felicis Ventures, with participation from investors including Benchmark, General Catalyst, and Robinhood Ventures. The round is said to have pushed Mercor’s valuation to around USD 10 billion. With each co-founder reportedly holding about a 22% stake, their ownership positions have propelled them into the billionaire ranks.

Recognition Among Young Innovators

All three Mercor founders were featured on the 2025 Under 30 list recognizing standout young innovators and entrepreneurs. Their rapid ascent underscores how quickly AI infrastructure and talent platforms can scale when paired with strong demand from leading research labs and enterprise AI teams.

Founders’ Backgrounds and Education

• Brendan Foody (CEO): Studied Economics at Georgetown University before leaving to focus on building Mercor full time.
• Adarsh Hiremath (CTO): An Indian-American computer scientist who studied at Harvard University and left after two years to concentrate on Mercor’s technical direction.
• Surya Midha (Board Chairman): A second-generation immigrant who studied Foreign Studies at Georgetown University prior to departing to co-found Mercor.

Midha and Hiremath both attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California, where they were debate teammates. Together, they made history by winning all three national policy debate tournaments in a single year — a testament to their analytical rigor and strategic thinking. Later, all three founders became Thiel Fellows, a program that supports young entrepreneurs building ambitious companies outside traditional academic paths.

How Mercor Fits Into the AI Boom

Mercor’s model sits at the intersection of AI development and global technical talent. As the demand for training data, evaluation, model fine-tuning, and specialized engineering grows, the company positions itself as a conduit connecting world-class developers with cutting-edge AI teams. This focus on scaling high-quality technical work has resonated with investors and clients alike, helping Mercor expand quickly.

Why Their Rise Matters

• Record-setting entrepreneurship: At age 22, the founders redefine what’s possible for young builders in the AI era.
• Global talent leverage: Mercor’s origins in connecting Indian engineering talent with U.S. demand highlight the power of cross-border innovation.
• Momentum in AI infrastructure: Significant funding and valuation reflect investor conviction in platforms that enable faster, safer, and more scalable AI development.

What’s Next

As AI adoption accelerates, Mercor’s priorities are likely to include expanding its engineering network, deepening partnerships with leading labs, and building tools that streamline model training and evaluation workflows. With fresh capital and growing recognition, the company’s next phase will be closely watched across the technology and venture ecosystems.

The unprecedented early success of Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha showcases how quickly opportunity can materialize at the frontier of AI — especially when ambitious founders combine technical expertise, global talent pipelines, and strong investor backing.