Cluely’s ARR Doubles to $7M Amid Rising Competition
Cluely, a Silicon Valley startup known for its AI-driven conversation analysis tools, has seen its annual recurring revenue (ARR) double to $7 million within a week of launching its new enterprise product. Founder Roy Lee revealed the surge in an interview with TechCrunch, stating, “Every single person who has a meeting or an interview is testing this out.”
The startup, which initially gained notoriety for its controversial origins—Lee was suspended from Columbia University for developing a tool to “cheat” on job interviews—has since pivoted to a more polished brand image. Backed by top-tier investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Susa Ventures, Cluely now markets itself as “Everything You Need. Before You Ask. … This feels like cheating.”
Cluely’s enterprise product mirrors its consumer offering but adds features like team management and enhanced security. Businesses are leveraging it for sales calls, customer support, and remote tutoring. According to Lee, the standout feature is its real-time note-taking capability. “Meeting notes have been a proven very sticky, very interesting AI use case,” he said, emphasizing that competitors only offer post-call summaries.
However, Cluely’s success may face challenges. A rival company, Pickle, recently launched Glass, an open-source alternative with similar functionality. Glass quickly gained traction, amassing over 850 GitHub stars and 150 forks in a single day. This raises questions about whether Cluely can maintain its momentum against free, community-driven alternatives.
