The latest buzz in San Francisco’s vibrant startup scene unfolded on Monday night, centered around what’s being called “the most legendary party that never actually happened,” according to Cluely founder and CEO Roy Lee.
Cluely had ambitious plans to host an exclusive after-party during Y Combinator’s AI Startup School event, which took place over Monday and Tuesday. The event drew a massive crowd, featuring high-profile speakers like Sam Altman, Satya Nadella, and Elon Musk.
Known for its provocative marketing and a hint of controversy, Cluely, an AI startup, made waves with a satirical stunt. Roy Lee posted a humorous video on X (formerly Twitter), showing himself camping out by the iconic Y Combinator sign—an image familiar to many founders and fans. The post promoted an “after-party” and invited followers to DM for an invite, though Lee clarified that they only invited friends and friends of friends, not the masses.
Despite the low-key approach, word spread quickly. When the event was supposed to start, crowds gathered outside the venue, with lines stretching blocks long. “It just blew up way out of proportion,” Lee explains. Estimates suggest around 2,000 people showed up, eager for what they thought would be a legendary party.
However, the festivities were short-lived. The throngs of people blocking traffic drew police attention, and officers promptly shut down the gathering. “Cluely’s aura is just too strong!” Lee joked outside as authorities dispersed the crowd.
He reflects, “It would have been the most legendary party in tech history. And I’d argue that the story of the party that never happened might just be the most legendary in its own way.” A mix of pride and disappointment colors his tone.
Lee first gained notoriety in San Francisco with a viral tweet about being suspended from Columbia University after he and his co-founder developed an AI tool designed to cheat on software engineering interviews. That tool, which creates a hidden in-browser window undetectable by interviewers or proctors, quickly gained attention. Cluely turned it into a startup promising to help users “cheat on everything,” and in April, they secured a $5.3 million seed round. These days, their marketing message is a bit more subtle: “Everything you need. Before you ask.”
As for the party’s chaos and police intervention? It quickly became a meme-worthy story, inspiring jokes, memes, and wild rumors across the startup community. Lee explained that the crowd was simply larger than expected, and after law enforcement arrived, “We did some cleanup, but the drinks are all there waiting for the next party,” he says with a grin.
