Intro

This chapter delves into the fascinating background of a major investment in the startup Cluely, showcasing the personal relationships that underpin venture capital. It emphasizes the significance of timing and market momentum in making impactful funding decisions.

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Episode notes

Bryan Kim, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), focuses on early-stage investments in consumer and application-layer AI. He has invested in some of the most prolific consumer companies like: Captions, ElevenLabs, BeReal, Function Health, and more.

One of his recent investments is viral phenomenon, Cluely, a controversial San Francisco-based AI startup founded by Roy Lee. Cluely has raised over $20M to date, with their most recent $15M investment from Bryan at a16z. Cluely is building an invisible desktop assistant to help you “cheat on everything.”

We talk about:

• The wild backstory behind investing in Cluely & ElevenLabs

• Why he calls momentum “the moat” in the AI era

• What it takes to raise a Series A today

• How context makes AI products infinitely better, and harder to replace

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(00:00) Trailer

(01:04) Welcome Bryan Kim & Cluely Intro

(02:26) How Bryan Met Roy Lee

(07:00) The $15M Bet On Cluely

(09:58) Cluely’s Hype Media Strategy

(14:18) Momentum Is The Moat