Cluely’s Roy Lee isn’t afraid to stir the pot – and he takes that bold energy to Disrupt Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025which will take place October 27-29 at Moscone West in San Francisco.
He’ll dive into how he’s building one of the most talked-about AI startups, why courting controversy can be a growth strategy, and what it takes to stand out in a noisy consumer tech market. Don’t miss this chance to see Roy Lee shake things up at Disrupt. Sign up here to save up to $444 on your pass and get 60% off for a second.
How Roy Lee’s rage created a $15 million artificial intelligence startup
Roy Lee is its co-founder and CEO Clearlyan AI meeting assistant that offers real-time insights and turns conversations into searchable and shareable reports. Hundreds of companies offer similar products, so why do we care about Cluely? What really sets Lee apart is his mastery of attention. At a time when most startups are struggling to get noticed, Lee has made social media content a rage for his business model.
Lee first went viral as a Columbia University student who got in trouble for cheating on Big Tech interviews with an artificial intelligence assistant he built, all of which he recorded on social media. Lee then left and launched Cluely, which was initially billed as the “bootleg cheat”. It was a tagline designed to ruffle feathers and boost engagement—a strategy that Cluely became famous for and others tried to copy.
Say what you will about Lee’s marketing efforts, but Cluely usually escapes the noise of social media and press releases, gaining the visibility of startups that companies 10 times its size struggle to buy. Lee operates Cluely on the principle that most companies play it too safe and that caution is all it takes to win over the consumer market.
Cluely raised $15 million in a Series A from Andreessen Horowitz earlier this year and has spent its funding on impressive launch videos, dozens of intern content creators, and a huge office in San Francisco. Lee is one of the founders at the center of the AI bubble and has used it to his advantage.
Learn how stirring the pot is fueling growth — get your pass before prices rise
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025Lee will share how he thinks about virality as a marketing strategy, his thoughts on the AI bubble, and how Cluely is building an enduring business on top of its social media reputation. Sign up now to save up to $444 on your pass, plus 60% off a second. Prices increase when event doors open on October 27.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco
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27-29 October 2025
