Cluely's Revenue Surge Follows Enterprise AI Launch

Silicon Valley startup Cluely has reported its annual recurring revenue (ARR) skyrocketed to $7 million, doubling its previous figures within just one week of launching a new enterprise product. Founder Roy Lee confirmed the dramatic growth to TechCrunch, attributing it to strong demand for their AI-powered meeting assistant.

How Cluely Works

The platform uses artificial intelligence to analyze online conversations in real time, providing users with:

• Automated meeting notes
• Contextual background information
• Suggested questions

All features appear discreetly on users' screens without alerting other meeting participants.

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the image licensing service provider is Midjourney.

From Controversial Beginnings to VC Backing

Lee's journey hasn't been without challenges. Early in Cluely's development, he faced expulsion from Columbia University for creating academic cheating tools—an experience he leveraged to launch the controversial "Help You Cheat" product. Today, the company counts Andreessen Horowitz, Abstract Ventures, and Susa Ventures among its investors and has rebranded with the slogan: "Everything is here before you ask."

"The controversy hasn't dampened corporate interest," Lee noted, revealing one client recently expanded their contract to $2.5 million annually.

Enterprise vs. Consumer Offerings

The enterprise version builds on Cluely's consumer product with additional features:

• Team management tools
• Enhanced security settings
• Specialized functions for sales calls and customer support

Lee emphasized that real-time meeting transcription remains the most popular feature: "Other AI tools provide notes after meetings—our advantage is delivering them during conversations."

Emerging Competition

The market landscape shifted last Thursday when rival Pickle launched Glass, a free open-source alternative with similar functionality. The product quickly gained traction in developer communities, amassing:

• 850+ GitHub stars
• Nearly 150 forks

Analysts question whether Cluely can maintain its growth momentum against free competitors while continuing to monetize its proprietary technology.

Key Points:

1. Cluely's ARR reached $7M within a week of its enterprise launch
2. The AI tool provides discreet, real-time meeting assistance
3. Founder Roy Lee transformed early controversy into venture-backed success
4. New open-source competitor Glass threatens market position
5. Enterprise version offers team management and security upgrades