Cluely ARR hit $7M doubled in just a week

Cluely, founded by 21-year-olds Chungin “Roy” Lee and Neel Shanmugam, is an AI-powered “invisible assistant” that delivers in‑context real-time help during video calls, interviews, exams, or sales pitches via a stealthy screen overlay. Designed to function discreetly, Cluely allows users to access AI-generated answers without detection, a novel—and controversial—approach to boosting performance in high-stakes, real-time scenarios. Its viral launch strategy, featuring polarizing videos and aggressive growth marketing, has driven rapid adoption and enormous buzz.

In an astonishing display of traction, Cluely’s ARR skyrocketed from around $3 million in April to $7 million by early July—a doubling within just one week—as reported by founder Roy Lee. This surge underscores immense demand for real-time AI assistance amid growing traction among college students, job seekers, and professionals willing to adopt edgy tech that blurs ethical lines.

Financially, Cluely raised $5.3 million in seed funding in April 2025, led by Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures, followed by a $15 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz in June—bringing total investment to roughly $20.3 million and a post-money valuation near $120 million. With 70,000 users reported shortly after seed, strong viral marketing, and plans to scale further (including potential hardware integration), Cluely is fast building momentum—even amid emerging rivals and anti‑cheating detection tools entering the market.