Roy Lee, the co-founder and CEO of Cluely, has publicly acknowledged that the $7 million annual recurring revenue figure he shared with TechCrunch last summer was inaccurate. In a recent post on X, he described this as the "only blatantly dishonest thing I've said publicly online, so this is my formal retraction."
However, Lee's explanation about how he arrived at that figure raises questions. He claimed he was caught off guard during a cold call from a reporter, where he provided misleading information without expecting it to be published. Yet, the reality is that Cluely's public relations team had proactively reached out to TechCrunch, arranging for Lee to be interviewed.
On June 27, 2025, a PR representative contacted TechCrunch, expressing interest in featuring Lee for a story about Cluely's next phase. After confirming Lee's availability, the reporter successfully connected with him, leading to the interview where the revenue figures were discussed.
Cluely gained attention as a viral startup known for allowing users to discreetly find answers during video calls. This innovative concept was born after Lee faced suspension from Columbia University for developing a tool to assist in job interviews. The company secured $5.3 million in seed funding to further its mission, aiming to commercialize the tool that sparked controversy.
In June, Cluely successfully raised $15 million in Series A funding from Andreessen Horowitz, reflecting its growing influence in the tech landscape. The company became known for its provocative marketing strategies, leveraging viral content and bold claims to maintain visibility and attract users. At the TechCrunch Disrupt event in October 2025, Lee discussed the effectiveness of these marketing tactics for early customer acquisition.
While Lee refrained from sharing updated revenue figures during the event, he emphasized the importance of being cautious with financial disclosures, suggesting that sharing revenue numbers could be detrimental to building a sustainable business. Ironically, in his recent admission and subsequent sharing of revenue data from his Stripe account, he seems to have overlooked this advice.
As Cluely transitions to position itself as an AI-powered meeting note-taker, this latest turn of events highlights the complexities of navigating public perception and financial transparency in the fast-paced tech environment.
