Police Raid Cluely’s ‘Cheat at Everything’ Startup Party
▼ Summary
– Cluely planned an after-party for Y Combinator’s AI Startup School, which featured high-profile speakers like Sam Altman and Elon Musk.
– The party gained viral attention after CEO Roy Lee posted a satirical video on X, though only friends and friends of friends were invited.
– Overcrowding occurred, with an estimated 2,000 people showing up, leading to traffic blockages and police shutting it down.
– Lee framed the event as “the most legendary party that never happened,” blending pride and disappointment over its cancellation.
– Cluely, known for controversial marketing, previously went viral for an AI tool designed to “cheat on everything” and recently raised $5.3 million in seed funding.
A viral San Francisco startup party organized by controversial AI company Cluely was shut down by police before it even began, creating what founder Roy Lee calls “the most legendary party that never happened.” The event, intended as an unofficial afterparty for Y Combinator’s AI Startup School, spiraled out of control when thousands showed up based on social media hype.
Lee had posted a satirical video on X (formerly Twitter) promoting the gathering near Y Combinator’s iconic sign, despite Cluely not being part of the accelerator program. Though he claims only friends received actual invitations, the post reached his 100,000+ followers, and details spread rapidly. By the scheduled start time, approximately 2,000 people crowded the venue, with lines stretching multiple city blocks.
The sheer scale of the gathering forced police intervention due to traffic disruptions, abruptly ending the event before festivities could begin. Lee, known for his theatrical marketing stunts, leaned into the chaos, shouting about Cluely’s “aura” as officers dispersed the crowd. The founder later framed the shutdown as a cultural moment, suggesting the failed party might achieve legendary status precisely because it didn’t occur.
This incident follows Cluely’s pattern of provocative marketing. The startup gained notoriety after Lee claimed Columbia University suspended him for creating an AI tool designed to cheat during technical interviews. Their product, a hidden browser window undetectable by interviewers, initially launched with the slogan “cheat at everything,” though recent messaging has softened to “Everything you need. Before you ask.” The company secured $5.3 million in seed funding earlier this year.
True to form, Lee transformed the police shutdown into another marketing opportunity, joking about saved drinks for future events while social media buzzed with memes exaggerating the night’s events. The spectacle reinforces Cluely’s reputation for blending tech innovation with internet culture antics, whether intentional or not.
(Source: TechCrunch)
