Cluely, a startup that says it assists users in “cheating” during job interviews, exams, and sales calls, announced on Friday that it has secured $15 million in Series A funding, led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.
Just two months ago, Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures co-led Cluely’s $5.3 million seed funding round, which preceded its latest capital raise.
Twenty-one-year-olds Roy Lee and Neel Shanmugam founded the startup earlier this year after Columbia University suspended them for developing “Interview Coder,” an undetectable AI tool that helps engineers cheat in technical interviews.
In April, Cluely released a polished yet controversial launch video featuring cofounder Roy Lee using a concealed AI assistant to deceive a woman during a date at an upscale restaurant—lying about his age and pretending to have knowledge of art.
Earlier this week, Cluely had planned to host a large after-party following Y Combinator’s two-day AI Startup School event. However, the police shut it down after approximately 2,000 people attempted to enter the venue, according to Lee. After their arrival, he told TC, “We did some cleanup, but the drinks are all there waiting for the next party.”
Cluely’s rapid rise—backed by major investors, viral marketing, and bold claims—has sparked both excitement and controversy in the tech world. As the startup continues to blur the lines between innovation and ethics, its future will likely depend on how it navigates growing scrutiny and regulatory attention.
