Cluely, Startup Helping Users ‘Cheat on Everything,’ Secures $15M from a16z

Cluely, a controversial startup that brazenly advertises its services as a way for users to “cheat” on job interviews, exams, and sales calls, has successfully raised $15 million in a Series A funding round. The investment was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), as announced by the company on Friday through a video posted on X.

While neither Cluely nor Andreessen Horowitz has officially confirmed the valuation, two unnamed investors familiar with the deal suggest that the company’s post-money valuation now stands around $120 million. Andreessen Horowitz declined to comment on this valuation figure, and Cluely CEO Roy Lee has not responded to requests for clarification.

This new influx of capital arrives just two months after Cluely secured $5.3 million in seed funding, co-led by Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures.

Founded earlier this year by Roy Lee, 21, and Neel Shanmugam, Cluely gained notoriety when the co-founders were suspended from Columbia University for creating “Interview Coder,” an AI-powered tool designed to help engineers cheat on technical interviews without detection.

Despite the controversy surrounding its services, Cluely claims to be profitable, according to multiple posts by Lee on X and in various podcast appearances.

A key factor in Cluely’s rapid rise has been Lee’s deliberately provocative social media presence. His controversial, highly-produced videos have proven effective in grabbing attention and building brand awareness.

Earlier this year, as reported by TechCrunch, Cluely released a polarizing launch video depicting Lee using a hidden AI assistant to deceive a woman about his age and knowledge during a date.

This week, Cluely attempted to host a large after-party following Y Combinator’s AI Startup School. However, police intervened and shut down the event after approximately 2,000 people showed up. Lee told TechCrunch that, after the police dispersed the crowd, they cleaned up the venue, but “the drinks are all there waiting for the next party.”