Science & Technology
Cluely CEO Roy Lee on the necessity of virality | TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Cluely founder Roy Lee has a simple message for startup founders: You should be thinking harder about how to go viral. “Generally, if you’re not in deep tech, then you need to low-key deep focus on distribution,” Lee said during this session with AI Senior Reporter Maxwell Zeff. Cluely’s AI assistant grew famous this April…
@AaronCrawford
October 31, 2025 at 6:27 pm
Bro
@puopg
November 1, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Bro
@autopilotbrowser
October 31, 2025 at 10:11 pm
this bro is so good at talking.
@nabilrise1551
November 2, 2025 at 1:05 pm
“At at at at ” this kid
@trendstar-odell
November 1, 2025 at 12:14 am
To say good software engineers aren’t and fundamentally wouldn’t be good content creators, tells me you need to meet different people. Also reputation matters more than it has in the past. It’s just from a fundamental view, good content or social marketing is authentic and platform native. But yeah, it’s been a while now, you need to get off podcasts and get a good product, or shift your marketing towards somehow generating awareness about what Cluely is, what it can actually do, or simply that Cluely even has a product… Your reputation is as a tech startup founder at the end of the day. At some point your going to have to prove that. Unless you just wanna be the guy who’s a good marketer and created a viral tech interview app. I do hope you win.
@Codak_3
November 1, 2025 at 5:50 am
I am also creating a Startup which can take youtube videos like this one into written content like a book, article, script and many more, if i succeed i will give advise on how to do it
@ZM-dm3jg
November 1, 2025 at 7:15 am
You mean you copy paste the transcript into chatGPT 😅😅😅? Dont quit your day job buddy
@toluwanimibankole2345
November 2, 2025 at 2:06 pm
Anyone can paste a transcript into ChatGPT. Validate your idea before you pursue it
@YusufEbr
November 3, 2025 at 9:56 am
@ZM-dm3jg 😂why discourage him, if he markets it correctly someone will buy it, even if its been done before atleast 6 times
@godswilldave51
November 3, 2025 at 7:52 pm
@ZM-dm3jg😂😂😂😂😂
@fytv888
November 1, 2025 at 9:09 am
wtf
@DKTurbo
November 1, 2025 at 12:16 pm
This guy needs to grow up big time
@expitome
November 3, 2025 at 9:09 am
You mean the interviewer right? I agree.
@cutsio
November 1, 2025 at 1:17 pm
TL;DR 💡
Roy explains that focusing on viral distribution and authentic, differentiated content is critical for startup success, often more than perfecting the product initially.
💡 Key Points
– Roy’s breakthrough came from viral LinkedIn posts that built attention before product maturity.
– He stresses that distribution is everything, using controversy and authenticity to stand out.
– Launching early with a minimal product allowed user feedback to drive improvements, tripling retention.
– Content must be tailored by platform: Twitter needs strong captions and engagement, while TikTok/Instagram rely on compelling video.
– Marketing and product development must work together; many startups fail due to lack of distribution, not product quality.
Made by Cutsio’s Youtube Summarizer Chrome Extension
@TheZachAbdelilah
November 1, 2025 at 1:23 pm
Yikes
@rashid88
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 pm
this dude thinks hes funny so cringe
@ashutoshrudraksh2977
November 2, 2025 at 1:43 am
Bro is spitting facts fr
@spencercamp
November 2, 2025 at 10:49 am
NPC: TechCrunch Interviewer
Player: Roy Lee
@CertifiedYapper-x8f
November 2, 2025 at 11:23 am
I like bro, funny and hands on typa guy, just the team player you need on your side to push products that desperately needs traction.
@attisday
November 2, 2025 at 12:31 pm
They are doing cool things ignore the haters like the interviewer
@emmabellasworld
November 2, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Great interview
@josephf6261
November 2, 2025 at 3:04 pm
His seeming advantage is that self-interest is his only ethic. However, distribution without a feasible product is a ponzi scheme. The fraud will become evident when the house of cards eventually falls. Not a sound business model.
@4ever20-ai
November 3, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Yup, he is in a super fortunate situation. He is gonna have to do his best to maintain it.
@HumynStudio
November 2, 2025 at 4:55 pm
give us a sub guys~ we’re a new startup launching in 2-3 weeks, and getting all our socials up. Would really mean alot 🙂
@Konzo777
November 2, 2025 at 6:36 pm
is he crying ?
@DanOhCaptainDaniel
November 2, 2025 at 8:35 pm
10:24 basically our revenue and mau sucks 😅
@viniwark
November 3, 2025 at 3:36 am
Really nice content
@wuhtuhfuhbruh
November 3, 2025 at 6:27 am
“twitter is just a bunch of jealous engineers who dont want to see anyone succeed but themselves” hahahahahahahha🤣🤣🤣🤣
@Inspire_monday
November 3, 2025 at 9:19 am
join as a partner with menuzet (Saas)
@ibukunokunoye4795
November 3, 2025 at 11:54 am
13:42 “in the thick of it” ksi
@zalmykarimi5255
November 3, 2025 at 1:18 pm
Great responses by Roy. Especially against a passively combative interviewer
@nkalafengkarabomojapelo8011
November 3, 2025 at 2:27 pm
Has anyone used Cluely? What’s it all about?
@bryceedwards9314
November 3, 2025 at 2:36 pm
I really distrust this guy,.
@uav2
November 3, 2025 at 3:45 pm
bro was talking about jacking off to YC within the first minute on stage
@pavankumar1910
November 3, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Yo this is why I LOVE this guy bro, nothing is stopping him, lowkey aura