Cluely AI: Why a16z Believes It’s the Future Blueprint for Startups

Cluely, a San Francisco-based AI startup, has just landed $15 million in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and the tech world is buzzing—for all the right and wrong reasons. The company’s pitch? An “undetectable” AI assistant that feeds users real-time answers during interviews, exams, sales calls, and more, all while operating discreetly in the background.

A Founding Story That Courts Controversy

Cluely’s founders, Roy Lee and Neel Shanmugam, are no strangers to headlines. Both were suspended from Columbia University for creating Interview Coder, an earlier AI tool designed to secretly help engineers ace technical interviews. Rather than retreat, they doubled down, launching Cluely with a provocative brand and unapologetic marketing stunts that have made the startup infamous—and impossible to ignore.

Viral Growth, Bold Tactics

From the start, Cluely has thrived on viral moments. Lee’s social media antics, including failed dating stunts and a YC event afterparty that drew so many people police had to shut it down, have only fueled the company’s notoriety. The startup’s growth playbook includes hiring 50 TikTok-focused “growth interns” tasked with flooding social media with daily content, aiming to reach a billion views across platforms. Every member of the core growth team already commands a personal audience of over 100,000 followers.

a16z’s New Investment Philosophy

Andreessen Horowitz’s Bryan Kim says the decision to back Cluely reflects a broader shift in how VCs are thinking about AI startups. In an era where tech giants can quickly copy features, speed, and boldness now matter more than slow, “artisan” product development. Kim said, “If you craft this thing and OpenAI or someone builds a new model to include that part in their product, you’re done… it needed to be something where founders moved extremely quickly.” For a16z, Cluely’s aggressive tactics and rapid execution are not bugs—they’re features.

Profitability and Enterprise Traction

Despite the controversy, Cluely claims to be profitable and has already secured enterprise contracts, particularly in sales environments where real-time AI support is a game-changer. Consumer subscription revenue is growing, boosted by relentless viral marketing and systematic user-generated content.

The Blueprint for AI Startups?

Cluely’s approach is divisive. Critics question the ethics of a tool that markets itself as a way to “cheat,” while supporters see a model for how startups can break through the noise in a crowded AI landscape. For now, a16z’s high-profile bet signals that, at least in Silicon Valley, audacity and speed may matter more than playing it safe.