$5.3M raised to "cheat on everything"

@shifra_khan

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Selling · SaaS › AI Tool

Cluelyseen in 17 videos →cluely.com ↗

Why it worked

The video generated significant attention by highlighting a controversial startup that raised substantial funding, features a founder with a history of academic misconduct, and has a demanding and unconventional internship program. This combination of controversy, funding news, and a 'Black Mirror'-esque product taps into public curiosity and discussion around AI ethics and startup culture.

Summary

This video discusses Cluely, a startup that raised $5.3 million for its AI tool designed to provide real-time assistance during high-stakes situations like job interviews or sales pitches. The video highlights controversial aspects of the company, including a founder's suspension for using the tool and a demanding internship program, which have sparked mixed reactions.

Structure

1Introduction to Cluely and its funding
2Founder's controversial past and the AI tool's function
3Demo of the AI tool on a date
4Viral internship program and its requirements
5Mixed public reactions to the company's approach

Original caption

let's talk about the startup that let's you "cheat on everything" that just raised $5.3M 👀 #technews #business #businessnews #techtok #startups #ai #startup #technology

More from @shifra_khan

Their other posts in the index, biggest breakout first.

6Cluely's continued growth despite controversy

Product placement

The video discusses and shows clips of the AI tool 'Cluely', its founder Roy Lee, and its internship application. The tool is presented as a way to get real-time answers and lines during high-stakes moments.

On-screen text

im hiring 50 interns in san francisco for @trycluely, $50/hr. + founding engineers cluely.com/careers New Office $500,000 You'll spend the summer in a house with 50 high school/college students with the most impressive backgrounds in the country, and every day your output will be measured, compared, and publicized. At bare minimum, you'll be required to make 4 TikToks a day. If you can't put your face behind a camera and talk, don't apply. If you can't send 200 custom LinkedIn connection requests for a chance at a sales call, don't apply. If you don't think you can learn how to program and ship production-level code in 3 months, don't apply. If there was even a single moment in reading this job description where you cringed or thought that this culture might be too competitive or too toxic for you, don't apply. Updated Cluely Interns Application SAT/NCT score * Required? Start Answer If it's not an SAT 1600 / ACT 36, why not? Required? Start Answer MBTI type * Required? Start Answer Personal Pitch * Required? Start Answer Requirements/Preferences Experience with Electron/Typescript/React OR building native Mac apps in Swift. Experience with Docker/Kubernetes/DevOps strongly preferred. Must be willing to WORK HARD Working full-time in-person in the Mission District, SF Nothing is a requirement, if you're a dog, you're a dog. Convince us you deserve a spot.

Transcript

The startup that lets you "cheat on everything" just raised $5.3 million. One of the founders is Roy Lee, who got suspended from Columbia after using his AI tool to cheat in job interviews, posting the footage online. The startup's called Cluely and their pitch is simple: Real time answers during high stakes moments. Cluely watches your screen, listens to your mic, and feeds you the right lines, whether you're interviewing for a job, selling a product, or pitching investors. They went viral twice recently. The first time for a demo that shows Roy on a date, using Cluely to make himself sound older and more cultured. The app feeds him lines about art and wine in real time, the whole thing feels like it could have been pulled straight from a Black Mirror episode. From Cluely's launch video: "So uh, how old did you say you were?" "Um, I'm 30." "30 years old." "I'm I'm 30." "30 years old." But the product wasn't the only thing that got attention. Their internship program went viral too. They're hiring 50 interns, flying them into SF, paying them $50 an hour, and asking the growth interns to post at least four TikToks a day. The application feels more like a vibe check. It asks for your SAT score, your MBTI type, and also your personal pitch. And there's even a section that says "if you're a dog, you're a dog. Convince us you deserve a spot." So obviously reactions have been all over the place. Some people are calling it unethical, performative, and even dangerous. While others think that it's the most honest version of startup hustle that they've seen in a while. But the content and the waitlist keeps growing, doing exactly what it set out to do. Stir the pot, and grow anyway.