Some founders and investors in Silicon Valley, where health management and higher productivity are emphasised, are using cigarettes as an informal networking tool, voices say. They say time spent smoking together eases work-related tension and can lead to unexpected conversations.

On Sept. 17, local time, Business Insider reported that Stephen Campbell (스티븐 캠벨), co-founder of Revamp AI, said relationships grew closer after meeting officials from major technology companies in Shenzhen, China, and then sharing meals, drinks and cigarettes. Campbell said he hired some employees based on conversations they had while smoking together. He added that this does not mean smoking itself clinched business contracts or hiring.

Other investors described similar experiences. Jake Jolis (제이크 졸리스) of Zeno Ventures said some founders who smoke showed an attitude of not being overly conscious of investors' attention. He also said he does not view smoking as a positive factor in investment decisions or actively seek out smokers. A founder from the cryptocurrency industry also said he talked business while smoking with an investor at a bar in Miami and received an investment within a week.

The cases contrast with a broader trend of smoking cessation in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the adult smoking rate fell to 11.6 percent in 2022 from more than 40 percent in 1966. E-cigarettes and nicotine pouches have spread in the tech industry, but for some founders, traditional cigarettes are seen as a way to distance themselves from a health- and efficiency-driven culture.

Observations also pointed to differences by sector. Hassan Ismail (하산 이스마일), co-founder of Argos Research, said smoking is relatively more noticeable among founders in hard tech and the defence industry. He said this was a view based on personal experience, and there are no statistics showing smoking is rising again across Silicon Valley.