In an era where innovation defines the future, Surya Midha stands out as one of the brightest young minds reshaping the intersection of technology, talent, and artificial intelligence. At just 22 years old, he has achieved what most dream of for a lifetime — co-founding a company now valued at $10 billion and becoming one of the world’s youngest self-made billionaires. But beneath the numbers lies a story of relentless curiosity, sharp intellect, deep cultural roots, and the courage to challenge convention.
Early Life and Academic Brilliance of Surya Midha
Born in Mountain View, California — the heart of Silicon Valley — Surya Midha grew up surrounded by innovation. His parents, who immigrated from New Delhi, India, instilled in him a love for learning and an appreciation for hard work. Raised in San Jose, he attended Bellarmine College Preparatory, where he quickly proved himself as more than just a bright student.
In high school, Midha was a national champion policy debater, leading his team to win all three major national tournaments — the Tournament of Champions (TOC), the National Debate Coaches Association (NDCA), and the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). His analytical rigor, persuasive clarity, and unyielding drive made him one of the top debaters in the nation, earning the title of best speaker at both the TOC and NDCA.
Graduating as salutatorian in 2021, he continued to Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service to study international relations and economics. However, it was during this time that his entrepreneurial spirit began to outgrow the classroom.
The Birth of Mercor — Turning Vision into Reality
In 2023, Surya Midha, along with his high school debate teammates Adarsh Hiremath and Brendan Foody, decided to take a leap of faith. They took academic leave to co-found Mercor, an AI-driven recruitment startup based in San Francisco.
What started as a small platform connecting freelance programmers in India with U.S. companies evolved into something much bigger — a revolutionary AI-powered system that links world-class experts with leading AI labs to train frontier models.
Mercor became the bridge between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, enabling engineers, doctors, lawyers, and even journalists to contribute to the development of advanced algorithms. This innovative approach soon attracted major clients, including OpenAI and Anthropic.
Within two years, Mercor grew exponentially — from a small bootstrap startup to a $10 billion global powerhouse after a $350 million Series C funding round in October 2025.
Surya Midha: Leadership and Growth
As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Midha guided Mercor through its critical growth phases — from a $3.6 million seed round to a $100 million Series B at a $2 billion valuation. His focus on operational excellence, vision-driven leadership, and scalable strategies turned Mercor into one of Silicon Valley’s most promising startups.
In October 2025, Midha transitioned to the role of Chairman of the Board, signaling the start of a new chapter. The move reflected both maturity and foresight — an understanding that real leadership sometimes means stepping back to allow the company’s next phase of innovation to flourish under new management.
Recognition and Influence
The story of Surya Midha and Mercor is not just about business success; it’s about breaking barriers and redefining possibilities for young entrepreneurs worldwide.
In 2024, Surya became a Thiel Fellow, receiving the prestigious $100,000 grant designed to support visionary young founders who drop out of college to build impactful ventures. His inclusion in the Forbes 30 Under 30 (2025) list solidified his reputation as a leading voice in the AI and startup ecosystem.
Under his leadership, Mercor was recognized by Bloomberg as one of the “24 AI Startups to Watch in 2026”, and the company hired former Uber Chief Product Officer Sundeep Jain as its first president — a testament to Mercor’s growing influence and industry credibility.