Cluely, the fast-growing AI startup known for its bold beginnings, just hit a major milestone. The company has doubled its annual recurring revenue (ARR) to $7 million — and it only took a week.
Founder Roy Lee says the spike came right after launching Cluely’s new enterprise product. The tool is catching on fast, with users from all corners — sales reps, job seekers, tutors, and support teams — testing it in real-time conversations.
“Every person with a meeting or interview is trying this out,” Lee shared.
That interest has already translated into big deals. One public company reportedly doubled its contract to $2.5 million just days after the product went live.
What Cluely Actually Does
Cluely uses AI to give you real-time support during live conversations — whether on Zoom, Google Meet, or anywhere else.
It works quietly in the background, giving users:
- Live notes while you’re still on the call
- Suggestions for questions to ask next
- Context to help you respond smarter
- On-screen info that only you can see
It’s like having a personal assistant whispering key insights while you’re talking.
For individuals, it’s useful in interviews, pitches, or customer chats. For teams, it becomes a powerful productivity tool across sales, support, and education.
From Controversy to a $7M Business
Cluely’s journey hasn’t exactly been traditional.
Founder Roy Lee first drew attention with a viral post on X, claiming he was suspended from Columbia University for building a tool that helped people “cheat” in job interviews.
Instead of backing down, he leaned into the idea. The product was born from that same tech — and its first tagline?
“Cheat on everything.”
That got people talking, fast.
Since then, Cluely has cleaned up its messaging, especially after raising money from heavy-hitting VCs like Andreessen Horowitz and Susa Ventures. Its current slogan still keeps the edge, though:
“Everything You Need. Before You Ask. … This feels like cheating.”
Controversial or not, the product clearly works — and now, it’s growing fast.
What’s New in the Enterprise Version
The enterprise version includes everything the regular product does, but adds extra tools to help teams and larger companies, like:
- Team management features
- Stronger data privacy and security settings
- Admin tools to control how and where it’s used
That makes it easier for businesses to roll it out across departments.
Why Real-Time Notes Are Winning Users
According to Lee, real-time notes are the star feature — and what makes Cluely stand out.
Other AI tools (like Otter or Fireflies) offer notes after your meeting ends. That’s helpful, but not enough if you’re trying to stay sharp in the moment.
Cluely’s notes update live, so you can read, react, and steer the conversation while you’re still in it.
“You want to look back at notes during the meeting — and that’s what we offer,” Lee said.
But Here Come the Copycats
It didn’t take long for rivals to notice.
Just days after Cluely’s enterprise launch, a startup called Pickle introduced a free, open-source competitor called Glass. It claims to do almost the same thing — and it’s already catching attention from developers.
By mid-day launch:
- Glass had 850+ GitHub stars
- Forked 150+ times, showing strong interest from the open-source community
It’s still early days, but tools like Glass could put pressure on Cluely — especially among developers and smaller teams looking to save money.
So, What Happens Next?
Cluely’s rise is impressive. Going from a controversial side project to a profitable, $7M ARR business in such a short time is no small feat.
But now the company faces a classic startup test: Can it keep growing while defending its edge?
Open-source challengers are cheaper. Some are even free. That makes Cluely’s job clear — keep improving the product, serve bigger businesses, and show why its experience is worth paying for.
Key Takeaways
- Cluely’s revenue doubled to $7M in a week, thanks to its new enterprise launch
- Its AI tool helps users during live calls with notes, context, and question prompts
- Once marketed as a tool to “cheat,” it’s now VC-backed and being used by large companies
- Live meeting notes are the standout feature — and hard for others to match in real-time
- A free, open-source competitor called Glass just launched and is gaining momentum
Final Word
Cluely’s story shows how quickly an idea — even a controversial one — can become a major business. It also proves how much people value real-time support in online conversations.
As copycats emerge and competition heats up, all eyes are on Cluely to see if it can stay ahead of the curve.
Stay tuned. This is one startup war worth watching.