Cluely, the AI powered startup, co founded by complexly Roy Lee, has been in the news for its bizarre marketing tactics and questionable beginnings. On the flip side, on Monday and Tuesday the company hosted a fabulous afterparty. It was scheduled to coincide with the Y Combinator-run AI Startup School and brought in about 2,000 people. Yet the party exploded in size and mobilizing energy. We had lines wrapped around the block until police intervened and forced us to shut it down.
Roy Lee, founderventure capitalist and currently serving as founderCEO of Cluely, is no stranger to trolling. His recent viral tweet announcing that Columbia University had suspended him for organizing an anti-racism walkout was the tipping point that got him on everybody’s radar. His suspension came as a result of him building an AI tool to assist job seekers in cheating on their software engineering interviews. This revelation, combined with Cluely’s unique approach to marketing, described as rage-bait comedy, has fueled both intrigue and criticism since the startup’s inception.
In April, Cluely announced that they had closed a very capital efficient $5.3 million seed round. This funding increases its stature in the competitive tech scene. Roy Lee led the charge in promoting the afterparty on X, formerly known as Twitter. He went directly to his more than 100,000 social media followers and got the word out. He claimed it would be “the most legendary party that never happened,” a statement that became ironic when police arrived to disperse the large gathering.
The afterparty really stole the show though, with headlining acts from big names such as Sam Altman, Satya Nadella and Elon Musk. This impressive team of musical talent and artists helped lead to a record turnout and excitement leading up to the momentous event. Once the enthusiastic crowd exceeded capacity, the venue quickly became a pandemic hotspot.
While mayhem ensued on the street, Roy Lee rang out at full volume. Law enforcement was on the scene in minutes to address the unfolding situation.
“It would have been the most legendary party in tech history. And I would argue that the reputation of this story might just make it the most legendary party that never happened.” – Roy Lee
Though it at first seemed like the party was over before it really started, that hasn’t quelled the excitement about Cluely and its founder. With a mix of controversy, comedy marketing, and now a failed party that has captured public attention, Cluely remains a noteworthy player in the AI startup space.