Sourcery Cluely Raises $15 Million From a16z | Roy Lee, Founder & CEO
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Jun 20, 2025 
Roy Lee, the innovative Founder and CEO of Cluely, shares insights on raising $15 million from Andreessen Horowitz for his AI startup known for real-time, undetectable screen overlays. He discusses the delicate balance of viral marketing and brand awareness, as well as the intense fundraising landscape for startups. Roy elaborates on the intriguing dynamics of innovative financial management and the polarizing effects of stunt marketing. With a blend of humor and reflection, he addresses the contemporary challenges of a founder navigating the tech world.
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Fundraise With Bold Confidence
- If you doubt your company can reach 100M ARR within a year, you likely don't have the guts to build it.
- Prioritize your current round; raise more money now and swing big at every moment.
Founder’s Viral Cheating Tool Story
- Roy Lee got kicked out of Columbia for building a viral cheating tool called InterviewCoder.
- Being blacklisted from big tech left him with no option but to raise funding and move to California to build his startup full-time.
Cluely’s Vision: Seamless AI Interface
- Cluely is a translucent overlay app that listens and sees your screen to give AI context beyond typical chatbots.
- This approach anticipates future multimodal AI models that integrate AI seamlessly into your everyday workflow without switching apps.