Tech Startups Are Handing Out Free Nicotine Pouches to Boost Productivity

December 31, 2025

Man holding a can of nicotine pouches

(WSJ) – A nicotine replacement for smokers has started popping up in offices in the tech industry, despite health hazards

Meet the tech industry’s latest perk: nicotine-pouch fridges and vending machines.

Nicotine pouches, which have grown in popularity in recent years, including among Wall Street bankers, have become a go-to stimulant for a subset of tech workers who claim the products help them focus and get through the workday, despite health hazards.

These pouches, the size of a piece of gum, are tucked between users’ gums and cheeks, coming in flavors such as mango, espresso and mint.

Earlier this year, two nicotine startups—Lucy Nicotine and Sesh—made branded vending machines filled with flavored products for analytics company Palantir Technologies. (Read More)