An Indian software engineer has shared his experience of working long weeks at Mercor, an AI startup that calls itself the world's fastest growing company. He said that employees often work 72 hours a week, sometimes even close to 100. Yet he believes the rewards, growth, and learning at the company make it worth the grind.
Mercor has grown at a record pace. The company says it went from $1 million to $500 million in revenue run rate in just 17 months. Its CEO has called it the fastest growing company in history.
Mercor is an AI training startup. The company says its growth has been explosive, averaging double-digit weekly increases in revenue. According to its CEO Brendan Foody, Mercor posted 11% week-on-week growth in July, 18% in August, and 19% in September.
The startup is targeting a valuation of over $10 billion, according to industry reports. Reuters and TechCrunch have both noted the company's rise. The firm positions itself as creating a new category of knowledge work around training AI agents.
For employees, the pace is demanding. The Indian engineer, Pranav Mehta, previously worked at Microsoft. He said Mercor's work culture is intense but unmatched for those seeking fast growth.
Mehta described weeks of 72 hours or more. He admitted that sometimes it stretched to 100 hours. Despite this, he said the steep learning curve and fast-moving environment gave him more energy and opportunities than a normal 40-hour week.
He compared it directly with the traditional work schedule. In his words, a "comfy" 40-hour week does not deliver the same growth or rewards. For him, the sacrifice of personal time has been worth it.
Employees often see themselves as privileged to be part of a company breaking records. The culture demands dedication, but also promises accelerated career growth and exposure to cutting-edge AI work.
Mercor's model raises bigger questions about the future of work in AI-driven industries. The startup argues that while many fear AI will replace jobs, it is creating new ones. Its CEO says the future of work will center around training AI agents.
If the company sustains its momentum, it could change how startups operate and how talent is managed. High-growth firms may attract ambitious workers ready to put in extreme hours. But it also sparks debate about work-life balance, mental health, and long-term sustainability.
Mercor's rise shows both the promise and the pressure of being the world's fastest growing company.