Indian-Origin Duo Become World’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaires at 22 with AI Startup Mercor

Two Indian-origin tech entrepreneurs, Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha, have become the world’s youngest self-made billionaires at the age of 22, overtaking Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, who achieved the milestone at 23. The duo, along with their school friend Brendan Foody, co-founded the Silicon Valley-based artificial intelligence recruitment platform Mercor, which recently secured $350 million in funding, valuing the company at $10 billion.

Hiremath and Midha each hold about 22% equity in the company, placing their individual net worths above the billion-dollar mark. The startup, launched in 2023, leverages artificial intelligence to connect software developers, particularly from India, with technology firms across the United States seeking skilled freelance talent.

Hiremath, who grew up in California’s Bay Area, attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose before enrolling at Harvard University to study computer science. He conducted research in machine learning before dropping out to pursue Mercor full-time. His co-founder, Surya Midha, shares a similar trajectory, combining early exposure to computer science with entrepreneurial ambition.

Mercor’s rapid ascent mirrors the recent boom in AI-driven workforce platforms that match global talent pools with Western employers. The company has positioned itself as a bridge between emerging-market engineers and high-demand sectors in the U.S., capitalizing on the remote work revolution accelerated by the pandemic.

Industry observers have drawn comparisons between Hiremath and Zuckerberg, noting their parallel paths as young innovators who left elite universities to build billion-dollar companies. However, analysts also caution that valuations often reflect projected growth rather than realized wealth, meaning the founders’ fortunes are largely tied to Mercor’s sustained performance.

Nonetheless, the achievement underscores a shifting dynamic in global entrepreneurship, where Indian-origin founders are increasingly leading in frontier technologies. The story of Hiremath and Midha exemplifies how a blend of technical skill, early collaboration, and access to venture capital can propel young innovators to extraordinary heights.Their success marks not only a new record in youthful wealth creation but also highlights the growing influence of AI-powered platforms in redefining global hiring and remote work ecosystems.