Building Cluely: The Viral AI Startup that raised $15M in 10 Weeks w/ Roy Lee

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 00:50 Roy's Rise and Controversies 03:33 A Journey of Provocation and Ambition 07:52 Mastering the Algorithm 12:24 Building a Viral Tech Company 14:07 The Power of Distribution 15:49 The Partnership with Brian 20:09 Momentum as a Moat 20:57 The Evolution of Product Retention in the AI Era 21:58 The Importance of Speed and Innovation in AI 24:46 The Rise of Creator-Driven Software Businesses 25:56 Cluey's Journey: From Interview Coder to Viral Success 27:02 The Power of Distribution and User Data 28:54 The Translucent Overlay: A Game-Changer in AI UX 32:41 Building Hype and Authenticity in Product Launches 34:22 The Future of Professionalism and Corporate Culture 40:12 Concluding Thoughts and Vision for the Future 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.co