{
  "id": 7983141,
  "title": "Silicon Smokers: Meet the tech founders who think that cigarettes are their edge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/silicon-smokers-meet-the-tech-founders-who-think-that-cigarettes-are",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-17T08:11:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/smoking-cigarettes-silicon-valley-counterculture-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A group of tech founders believe that smoking cigarettes gives them an edge in the competitive industry. David Butow, cofounder of Revamp AI, met with a Chinese tech company while visiting Shenzhen. The initial meeting was tense due to the language barrier, but the relationship grew more personal after sharing cigarettes and other activities at a cocktail bar and KTV karaoke bar. Although smoking is generally frowned upon, these tech founders see it as a way to take breaks from their demanding work and build connections with others. Venture capitalists and founders are drawn to the laissez-faire attitude of smokers, who they perceive as more casual and relatable. This smoking culture is not new to the tech world, with figures like Intel cofounder Robert Noyce and Atari staffers once being known for their chainsmoking habits. Some tech workers even claim that meeting a founder who smokes can lead to investment opportunities, as it demonstrates their ability to \"hang\" and build connections.",
  "summary": "In the noise of optimization, some techies say smoking has become the new signal.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}