Adarsh Hiremath (Mercor)
Overview
Adarsh Hiremath is a co-founder and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Mercor, an influential startup in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and recruitment technology. Mercor has rapidly distinguished itself as a major player in the AI infrastructure space, particularly through its innovative use of AI to facilitate recruitment processes. The company's remarkable growth trajectory has seen it achieve a valuation of $10 billion as of October 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing companies in Silicon Valley.
Recent Developments
-
October 2025: Mercor announced a substantial Series C funding round led by Felicis Ventures, raising $350 million and valuing the company at $10 billion. This new investment aims to expand Mercor’s talent network, enhance its expert-matching systems, and accelerate project delivery. Source
-
February 2025: As of February 2025, Mercor had achieved a remarkable $70 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within 24 months of its founding. The company operates with an intense work culture, often characterized by long hours that reflect the team's passion and commitment. Source
-
February 2023: Co-founded by three young Thiel Fellows, Mercor began as a recruitment platform and quickly emerged as a leader in AI-driven human resource solutions. The founders, including Adarsh Hiremath, initially developed Mercor in their dorm rooms before dropping out of college to fully focus on expanding the startup. Source
-
2023-2024: Following the controversial acquisition of Scale AI by Meta, Mercor capitalized on the demand for neutral AI data-labeling platforms, further bolstering its competitive strength by filling a void left by Scale AI in the AI ecosystem. Source
Personal Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Adarsh Hiremath |
| Born | Not specified |
| Nationality | Not specified |
| Occupation | Co-founder and CTO of Mercor |
| Known For | Founding Mercor, AI and recruitment technology |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Education | Attended Harvard University |
Early Life and Education
Adarsh Hiremath began his academic journey at Harvard University, where he pursued concurrent Bachelor's and Master's degrees in computer science. While at Harvard, he actively engaged in machine learning research and explored macroeconomic theories, working closely with influential figures such as Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary. Although Hiremath had a promising academic future, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Mercor during his sophomore year, along with his high school acquaintances, Brendan Foody and Surya Midha. The trio, as Thiel Fellows, decided to forgo their formal education in favor of nurturing their startup full-time.
Career and Notable Achievements
-
Mercor Co-founding (2023): In 2023, Adarsh Hiremath co-founded Mercor with Brendan Foody and Surya Midha. The company was initially developed as a dorm-room experiment focused on using automation and AI for recruiting purposes.
-
Thiel Fellowship: All three founders were selected as Thiel Fellows, a prestigious program backing college dropouts in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
-
Rapid Growth: Within two years of its inception, Mercor scaled to $70 million in annual recurring revenue and achieved a $10 billion valuation by 2025, illustrating its swift ascent and the operational intensity that defined its corporate culture.
-
Technology Leadership: As CTO, Hiremath spearheaded the technological innovations at Mercor, ensuring the company stayed at the forefront of integrating AI into human resource solutions.
Current Work and Impact
Currently, Adarsh Hiremath continues to spearhead technological initiatives at Mercor, focusing on leveraging AI to improve hiring processes and support the proliferation of AI models across various industries. Under his guidance, Mercor has transitioned into a pivotal player in the AI data labeling and recruitment space. This focus on human expertise-driven AI training has set new standards for leveraging human knowledge in machine training processes, amplifying the quality and efficiency of AI implementations globally.
Conclusion
Adarsh Hiremath's journey with Mercor epitomizes a modern entrepreneurial success story, characterized by rapid innovation, strategic pivots, and impactful growth. His work in the AI and recruitment domain continues to influence contemporary practices, setting a benchmark for future technological endeavors in these fields. With ongoing advancements and strategic funding, Mercor's story under Hiremath's leadership signals a promising future, blending human expertise with artificial intelligence to drive meaningful change in the industry.