Cluely’s Meteoric Growth
Cluely, an AI-driven productivity startup, has experienced a dramatic surge in its annual recurring revenue (ARR), jumping from $3 million to $7 million in just one week. This leap follows the launch of Cluely’s enterprise product, which introduced advanced features such as team management and enhanced security, targeting business users in sectors like sales, customer support, and remote education. The company’s rapid growth was further fueled by securing a $500,000 annual contract with an unnamed public company.
What Sets Cluely Apart
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Real-time meeting notes: Cluely provides instant notes, contextual insights, and suggested questions during live conversations, allowing users to access information discreetly and immediately.
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Enterprise features: The new product offers robust team management and security controls, appealing to larger organizations.
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Strong backing: Cluely is supported by major venture capital firms, including Andreessen Horowitz, Susa Ventures, and Abstract Ventures.
The Rise of Pickle’s Glass: A Free, Open Source Alternative
Just as Cluely celebrated its ARR milestone, a new challenger appeared. Pickle, a startup branding itself as a “digital clone factory,” launched Glass—an open-source, free product that closely replicates Cluely’s core functionality.
Glass: Features and Community Response
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Completely free and open source: Glass is available on GitHub, requiring no registration and offering full transparency.
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Real-time AI assistant: Like Cluely, Glass listens to meetings, observes screen content, and provides instant notes, summaries, and action items.
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Rapid adoption: Within a day of launch, Glass received over 1,300 GitHub stars and more than 200 forks, signaling strong interest from the developer community.
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Developer focus: Glass is designed to be lightweight, fast, and customizable, with plans to support local AI models for privacy and cost savings.
Cluely vs. Glass: A New Competitive Landscape
| Feature | Cluely (Proprietary) | Glass (Open Source) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid (e.g., $20/month) | Free |
| Source Code | Closed | Open (GitHub) |
| Real-Time Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise Features | Advanced security, team mgmt | Basic, with roadmap |
| User Data Ownership | Cluely servers | User/local, customizable |
| Community Involvement | Limited | High (open development) |
Cluely’s strength lies in its proven ability to attract paying enterprise customers and deliver robust, business-grade features. However, Glass’s open-source approach is rapidly gaining traction among developers and early adopters, offering a no-cost alternative with similar core capabilities.
The Road Ahead
Cluely’s rapid ascent highlights the immense demand for real-time AI productivity tools. Yet, the swift emergence of open-source competitors like Glass underscores the challenges proprietary startups face in maintaining their edge. As the market evolves, Cluely will need to continue innovating—focusing on enterprise value, user experience, and support—to justify its premium pricing in the face of free, community-driven alternativesves