Police Shut Down Cluely’s Party, the Startup Infamous for ‘Cheating at Everything’

On Monday evening, a dramatic twist unfolded in San Francisco’s startup landscape, dubbed by Cluely founder and CEO Roy Lee as “the most legendary party that never happened,” during a discussion with TechCrunch.

Cluely aimed to host an after-party for the Y Combinator event, AI Startup School, which took place on Monday and Tuesday and featured prominent speakers like Sam Altman, Satya Nadella, and Elon Musk.

Staying true to its provocative marketing approach, Cluely shared a satirical video on X promoting the after-party. The video showcased Lee at the famous Y Combinator sign—a typical backdrop for YC founders—even though Cluely is not a YC startup.

In his tweet, he encouraged his 100,000+ followers to DM him for an invitation. Lee later revealed to TechCrunch that the actual guest list was limited to friends and acquaintances. “We only invited friends and friends of friends,” he stated.

Despite the limited invites, word of the party spread rapidly. When the event time arrived, crowds outside the venue were extensive, creating lines that wrapped around the block. “It just blew up way out of proportion,” Lee remarked, estimating that around 2,000 people gathered.

Although a party of that magnitude could have gone awry, it never reached that stage. With lines blocking traffic, law enforcement intervened and shut it down. “Cluely’s aura is just too strong!” Lee exclaimed as the police dispersed the gathering.

“It would have been the most legendary party in tech history. I’d argue that the story of this event might render it the most iconic party that never occurred,” he shared with TechCrunch, his tone a blend of pride and disappointment.

Lee gained prominence in San Francisco following a viral tweet on X, where he claimed he was suspended from Columbia University due to an AI tool he and his co-founder developed to assist with interview cheating for tech roles.

They evolved that tool into a startup featuring a discreet in-browser window that interviewers or proctors cannot detect. The startup gained further attention with its audacious marketing promises of enabling users to “cheat on everything.” In April, Cluely successfully raised a $5.3 million seed round, and the messaging has since become more refined: “Everything you need. Before you ask.”

The police shutdown of the party quickly transformed into a source of jokes, memes, and imaginative rumors. Lee’s explanation of the crowd dynamics may not be as thrilling as some speculated. “After the cops arrived, we did some cleanup, but the drinks are all there waiting for the next party,” he mentioned reassuringly.