Three Young Entrepreneurs Make Billion-Dollar History
At just 22 years old, three ambitious young men have achieved a feat that many dream of but few ever reach: becoming the world's youngest self-made billionaires. Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha, all from San Francisco, have revolutionized the recruitment industry with their startup, Mercor. Founded in 2023, Mercor is now valued at an astonishing $10 billion.
In an interview with Forbes, Mr. Foody expressed his awe, stating, 'It's definitely crazy. It feels very surreal. Obviously, beyond our wildest imaginations, anything we could have anticipated two years ago.'
These young entrepreneurs hold a significant 22% stake in the company, surpassing Mark Zuckerberg's age when he became a billionaire at 23. Their journey began as members of the Thiel Fellowship, a program that provides grants to young individuals, encouraging them to drop out of college and pursue their entrepreneurial ventures. Mr. Hiremath, who studied at Harvard for two years before leaving, described the rapid change in his life, saying, 'My life did a 180 in such a short period.'
The idea for Mercor emerged from the desire to bridge the gap between Indian engineers and US companies seeking freelance coders. They developed a unique recruiting platform that utilizes AI to interview applicants and match them with the perfect company. When asked about their newfound wealth, the founders surprisingly revealed their dedication to the business, with Mr. Foody mentioning his late-night work hours, leaving the office around 10:30 PM, six days a week.
This remarkable achievement not only showcases their business acumen but also challenges societal norms, proving that age is not a barrier to success.
