In a world where innovation drives fortune, two 22-year-old Indian-origin prodigies have achieved what most only dream of — becoming Silicon Valley’s youngest self-made billionaires. Their AI-driven startup, Mercor, valued at a staggering $10 billion, is revolutionizing how the world recruits talent — and reshaping the narrative of Indian excellence in global tech.
The Birth of Mercor: When AI Meets Human Potential
Mercor was founded by Ayaan Lakhani and Aryan Bhatia, both computer science graduates with a shared vision — to make hiring faster, fairer, and smarter through artificial intelligence. Launched just two years ago from a small co-working space in Palo Alto, their platform uses AI algorithms to evaluate skills, personality traits, and project experience — eliminating traditional biases in recruitment.
Today, Mercor is used by over 3,000 global companies, including Fortune 500 firms and fast-growing startups, to hire software engineers, data analysts, and creative professionals within minutes instead of weeks.
The founders say their inspiration came from witnessing how talented individuals across India and other developing countries struggled to find global job opportunities due to outdated hiring systems. “We wanted to build a system where skill speaks louder than a résumé,” Ayaan said in an interview.
A Billion-Dollar Dream Realized
Within just 24 months, Mercor’s AI recruitment platform attracted major venture capital investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and SoftBank Vision Fund. Its most recent Series C funding round valued the company at $10 billion, officially making its young founders the youngest self-made billionaires in Silicon Valley history.
Their journey reflects a powerful shift — from brain drain to brain gain — as young Indian-origin entrepreneurs lead global innovation waves from the U.S. to Bengaluru.
Changing the Face of Global Hiring
Mercor’s impact goes beyond automation. Its AI engine doesn’t just match candidates to roles — it predicts how they’ll perform, improving retention and diversity across organizations. With plans to launch in India, Southeast Asia, and Europe, Mercor aims to connect over 10 million professionals to high-paying jobs by 2026.
Industry experts call it the “LinkedIn of the AI age,” a platform that could redefine how skills are valued in the digital economy.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Desi Innovators
For Indian youth, especially aspiring founders and engineers, the rise of Ayaan and Aryan is a symbol of limitless possibility. Their story is not just about wealth — it’s about breaking barriers, reimagining industries, and proving that age and origin are no obstacles to global success.
As Silicon Valley celebrates its newest billionaires, the world celebrates the unstoppable spirit of India’s new-age innovators — bold, brilliant, and boundaryless.
