Two Indian-Americans Become Youngest Self-Made Billionaires at 22 with AI Startup Mercor

Surya Midha and Adarsh Hiremath, two Indian-Americans, have become the world’s youngest self-made billionaires at 22, surpassing Mark Zuckerberg’s record set at 23. Along with co-founder Brendan Foody, they founded Mercor, a San Francisco-based AI startup specializing in AI-driven recruitment and data-labeling systems that enhance machine learning models with human expertise.

Mercor’s valuation skyrocketed to $10 billion following a $350 million funding round led by Felicis Ventures, with participation from General Catalyst, Benchmark, and Robinhood Ventures. Each co-founder holds about a 22% stake in the company, cementing their place among the youngest billionaires in the global tech arena.

Midha and Hiremath’s partnership began in elementary school as debate teammates and grew into an entrepreneurial journey at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose. Their success story highlights how shared vision and collaboration can lead to monumental achievements in artificial intelligence.

Their rise not only showcases the growing influence of Indian-American innovators in Silicon Valley but also underscores how AI startups are redefining wealth creation and the future of global technology.