Overview

• Cluely, an AI-powered tool providing hidden, real-time assistance during interviews, exams, and calls, has raised $5.3 million in seed funding from Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures.
• The startup, founded by Chungin 'Roy' Lee and Neel Shanmugam, emerged after the duo faced suspension from Columbia University for creating Interview Coder, the tool’s precursor.
• Cluely's viral launch video and manifesto argue that technologies initially seen as cheating, like calculators, eventually become normalized, sparking ethical concerns over its use.
• The AI tool, currently available for macOS with a Windows version in development, claims to have surpassed $3 million in annual recurring revenue this month.
• Critics warn Cluely undermines institutional integrity, while its founders frame it as a disruptive innovation challenging outdated norms in education and hiring.