Neel Shanmugam

Neel Shanmugam is a controversial yet successful entrepreneur who co-founded Cluely, an AI company focused on 'cheating to win' tools. His journey began with 'Interview Coder,' an AI tool that provided real-time solutions during coding interviews, which led to disciplinary action and his subsequent departure from Columbia University. Despite the academic setback, he embraced the controversy, moving to San Francisco to build Cluely, which has successfully raised significant seed funding. cbsnews+3

Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Neel has a strong background in scientific research, particularly in computational and biological chemistry. He conducted extensive undergraduate research at the University of North Texas and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, focusing on environmentally friendly solvents, cancer-associated mutations, and antiviral therapeutics. His work has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and a Goldwater Scholarship, demonstrating a deep commitment to scientific inquiry and problem-solving. columbia+3

Shanmugam is skilled in prompt engineering, having held a role at Rilla, and is adept at leveraging AI to create innovative solutions. His approach to business is characterized by a willingness to challenge traditional norms and rapidly iterate on ideas, as evidenced by the rapid evolution of Interview Coder into Cluely and its rapid growth. crunchbase+1