Cluely, the startup promising a product to help people “cheat” on everything, just raised $15 million in Series A funding from Andreessen Horowitz. The move sparked backlash on X, with many users criticizing the VC firm for backing a company famous for its rage-bait marketing.
Andreessen Horowitz partner Bryan Kim defended the bet, saying startups need new marketing tactics in the AI era. Kim explained on the latest a16z podcast that speed and momentum matter more than slow-built artisan products, especially with AI’s fast evolution.
Kim said: 
“If you craft this thing and OpenAI or someone builds a new model to include that part in their product, you’re done.”
“So, it couldn’t become this highly thoughtful, slow-build product. It needed to be something where founders moved extremely quickly.”
Kim’s belief: momentum is the new moat for consumer AI companies.
Cluely’s founder, Roy Lee, admitted the startup barely had a working product when it launched in April. Instead, they dropped a viral video showing Lee using their hidden AI to lie on a date. This sparked huge attention but plenty of questions about the actual product.
Lee told the podcast:
“Most people don’t know how to make viral content.”
“Everyone on X is trying to [sound] like the most intellectual, thoughtful person. But this just lacks viral sense.”
“Algorithms promote the most controversial things. I’m just literally applying the same principles of controversy on X and LinkedIn.”
The startup is still under fire online for the missing product. Lee posted on X that the official launch is scheduled for Friday, June 27.
Kim praised Cluely’s approach as the exact kind of momentum-driven startup he envisioned.
Kim said:
“What’s important is to try to build a plane as it’s falling down the cliff.”
We’ll see if Cluely’s risky marketing and rapid pace pay off or backfire.
