Assertion certainty 4/5 debate potential 1/5

Mercor hit its $50M run rate forecast two weeks after pitching

Brendan Foody · Why experts writing AI evals is creating the fastest-growing companies in history | Brendan Foody · Sep 18, 2025 · at 46:28

Mercor CEO Brendan Foody discusses setting ambitious growth targets and scaling the company's AI talent platform following Benchmark's Series A investment.

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“Where I remember when we were talking to Benchmark before they led our series A, we were at 1.5 million in run rate. And I said we'd be at fifty million in run rate by the end of the year. And they said we were absolutely insane, right? As anyone, anyone would. And plus or minus two weeks, we hit it, right?”

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