Cluely, a controversial AI startup co-founded by former Columbia University students Chungin “Roy” Lee and Neel Shanmugam, has raised $5.3 million in seed funding from Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures. The company offers an AI tool that runs undetected in-browser to assist users in real time during interviews, exams and other high-stakes scenarios.
Originally launched as “Interview Coder,” the tool gained viral attention after leading to disciplinary action at Columbia. Lee, now CEO, said Cluely aims to redefine how people interact with knowledge in high-pressure moments. “Like calculators or spellcheck, we believe Cluely fills a modern gap,” he told TechCrunch. The company has reportedly surpassed $3 million in annual recurring revenue.
Featured image: Credit: Cluely
