What began as disciplinary action has turned into a controversial tech success story. Chungin “Roy” Lee, a 21-year-old former computer science student at Columbia University, has co-founded Cluely, an AI startup that quietly assists users during high-pressure tasks like interviews and exams. The company has already secured $5.3 million in seed funding.
The roots of Cluely trace back to Interview Coder, a tool Lee and his co-founder Neel Shanmugam developed while at Columbia. It allowed job applicants—particularly aspiring software engineers—to receive covert, real-time assistance during technical interviews. Though some hailed it as a clever workaround, it led to the students’ suspension and reportedly got Lee blacklisted by major firms like Amazon.
Rather than retreat, Lee rebranded the tool and launched Cluely, now based in San Francisco. The platform’s functionality has since broadened. It now acts as a discreet AI assistant for various professional and academic scenarios—from sales calls to exams—via an undetectable browser overlay.
The startup’s messaging openly challenges traditional systems, likening Cluely to once-controversial tools like spellcheck and calculators. The idea has sparked ethical debates, especially after a launch video showed Lee using Cluely on a dinner date to fake his interests—prompting both amusement and criticism.
Despite the backlash, Cluely has crossed $3 million in annual recurring revenue. Its backers include Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures, alongside several individual investors.
Lee has publicly defended his vision, stating, “Swing big, or don’t swing at all.” He portrays Cluely not as cheating, but as a bold response to outdated and high-pressure evaluation systems. Columbia University declined to comment due to privacy policies, while Amazon reaffirmed its expectations for fair candidate conduct.
As the debate continues, Cluely stands at the centre of a growing conversation around AI’s role in modern productivity, assessments, and ethics.
