Mercor has become a $20 billion AI data company in just over two years, a speed that few startups achieve. Its story shows how three young entrepreneurs turned a niche service into a global powerhouse.

The three founders—Brendan Foody, Surya Midha and Adarsh Hiremath—first met in high‑school debating competitions in California. After leaving Georgetown (Foody and Midha) and Harvard (Hiremath), they launched Mercor in 2023.

Mercor began as an AI‑powered recruitment platform that linked freelance programmers in India with U.S. businesses. The company later pivoted to providing specialized training data for major AI developers.

In a fresh funding round, Mercor raised $750 million, which doubled its valuation to $20 billion. The round gave each co‑founder about a 21 % stake in the company.

CEO Foody said Mercor’s gross annualized revenue grew from $1 million to $3 billion, its customer base doubled to more than 100, and its workforce expanded from fewer than 40 to roughly 300 employees. In October 2025, the 22‑year‑old founders each reached an estimated fortune of $2.2 billion, making them the world’s youngest self‑made billionaires.