Building Cluely: The Viral AI Startup that raised $15M in 10 Weeks
The a16z Show25 Jun 2025

Building Cluely: The Viral AI Startup that raised $15M in 10 Weeks

What if virality wasn’t a tactic — but the entire product?

In this episode, a16z General Partners Erik Torenberg and Bryan Kim sit down with Roy Lee, cofounder and CEO of Cluely, one of the most talked-about consumer AI startups of 2025. Cluely didn’t raise a mega round or drop a feature suite to get traction - it broke through by turning distribution into design: launching viral short-form videos, pushing polarizing product drops, and building in public with speed and spectacle.

We cover:

– Why virality is Cluely’s moat

– Building a brand-native AI interface

– The Gen Z founder mindset

– What most startups get wrong about attention

– Why creators are the new product managers

– Cluely’s long-term vision for ambient AI

Cluely is a glimpse at the next generation of startups, where the line between product and performance is disappearing.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Early Success

02:02 Roy's Journey: From College Kid to Tech Universe

04:37 The Turning Point: Harvard and Beyond

06:57 Building Cluey: The Early Days

08:27 The Viral Strategy: Mastering Algorithms

13:56 The 50 Interns Experiment

15:30 The Investment Journey: Roy and Bryan's Partnership

19:20 Momentum as a Moat: The Future of AI Companies

20:32 The Evolution of Product Strategy in the AI Era

21:19 The Importance of Speed and Adaptability

22:48 The Role of Distribution in Modern Startups

24:26 Roy's Journey and Product Development

25:25 The Power of User Data and Feedback

26:58 Innovative Marketing and Distribution Tactics

28:25 The Future of AI Integration and Translucent Overlays

32:15 Controversial Marketing and Authenticity

34:01 The Impact of Radical Transparency

36:42 The Changing Landscape of Professionalism

38:26 Concluding Thoughts and Future Vision


Resources:

Find Roy on X: https://x.com/im_roy_lee

Find Bryan on X: https://x.com/kirbyman01

Learn more about Cluely: http://cluely.com/

Stay Updated:

Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z

Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/

Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

Stay Updated:

Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube

Find a16z on X

Find a16z on LinkedIn

Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify

Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episoder(1000)

The Story of Apple Pay with Jennifer Bailey

The Story of Apple Pay with Jennifer Bailey

In 2024, marking 10 years since its launch, Apple Pay now boasts hundreds of millions of consumers in 78 markets, at checkout on millions of websites and apps, in tens of millions of stores worldwide,...

22 Okt 202431min

Building a Thriving AI Ecosystem with Lisa Su

Building a Thriving AI Ecosystem with Lisa Su

Lisa Su has transformed AMD into a global leader in AI and high-performance computing.In this episode of the AI Revolution (AIR) series , Bob Swan, a16z Operating Partner and former CEO of Intel, sits...

17 Okt 202430min

The Deepfake Dilemma: The Technology, Policy, and Economy

The Deepfake Dilemma: The Technology, Policy, and Economy

Deepfakes—AI-generated fake videos and voices—have become a widespread concern across politics, social media, and more. As they become easier to create, the threat grows. But so do the tools to detect...

11 Okt 202434min

A Big Week in Tech: NotebookLM, OpenAI’s Speech API, & Custom Audio

A Big Week in Tech: NotebookLM, OpenAI’s Speech API, & Custom Audio

Last week was another big week in technology. Google’s NotebookLM introduced its Audio Overview feature, enabling users to create customizable podcasts in over 35 languages. OpenAI followed with their...

8 Okt 202432min

From Swipe to Scale: How Tinder Became #1

From Swipe to Scale: How Tinder Became #1

In 1995, just 2% of couples met online. Today, that number has surged to over 50%, making online dating the top way couples connect.In this episode, a16z General Partner Andrew Chen chats with Tinder ...

3 Okt 202428min

Human Data is Key to AI: Alex Wang from Scale AI

Human Data is Key to AI: Alex Wang from Scale AI

What if the key to unlocking AI's full potential lies not just in algorithms or compute, but in data? In this episode, a16z General Partner David George sits down with Alex Wang, founder and CEO of Sc...

24 Sep 202430min

The Frontier of Spatial Intelligence with Fei-Fei Li

The Frontier of Spatial Intelligence with Fei-Fei Li

Fei-Fei Li and Justin Johnson are pioneers in AI. While the world has only recently witnessed a surge in consumer AI, our guests have long been laying the groundwork for innovations that are transform...

19 Sep 202444min

Apple’s Big Reveals, OpenAI’s Multi-Step Models, and Firefly Does Video

Apple’s Big Reveals, OpenAI’s Multi-Step Models, and Firefly Does Video

This week in consumer tech: Apple’s big reveals, OpenAI’s multi-step reasoning, and Adobe Firefly’s video model.Olivia Moore and Justine Moore, Partners on the a16z Consumer team, break down the lates...

14 Sep 202431min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
e24-podden
finansredaksjonen
pengepodden-2
pengesnakk
rss-sunn-okonomi
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
rss-markedspuls-2
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
rss-investering-gjort-enkelt
utbytte
liberal-halvtime
okonomiamatorene
lederskap-nhhs-podkast-om-ledelse