This week I’m back from SF Tech Week, and I wanted to share five themes I saw and really enjoyed. We’ve talked about a lot of these ideas on patch before, but for me, actually using tools like Codex and seeing what agentic AI can do has been pretty incredible.

This is the patch:

• The power behind AI and the infrastructure explored at Neocloud Summit
• AI that does the task and what Camp AI, hosted by Auth0, covered about building and securing agents
• Shopping 3.0 with Arcade, where describing something you want could become a way to get it made
• We also get into Lilly and a16z’s event on AI in drug discovery
• Creator Clubhouse and how creators help us understand where these tools fit into our lives

Then we close with my work travel essentials: K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil, Everyday Chemist Lip Grease, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, my Rebecca Minkoff Perfect Tote in Black, and the Aritzia Sweatfleece sets I’ve been reaching for after months of being on the go.

If you want a little more background, check out

• 2026 tech predictions + new year work style for AI’s growing energy needs and agentic AI
• the ai bubble: lessons from the dot-com era + patchperfect’s work holiday gift guide for the infrastructure behind it all
• There’s also discernment > data: from textbox to toolbox, my conversation with Glendon Hass about AI that can use tools and why we still need to make the final call.

All views expressed are my own.

We’re back for season four, and I knew I wanted our first episode to be a special one. Flavia Zhamo is the founder of Everyday Chemist, a Toronto skincare brand she built with her chemical engineer mom. They’re also part of Sephora Accelerate, a beauty brand incubator that gives founders access to mentorship, industry experts, and an opportunity to launch at Sephora.

One of the things that drew me to Everyday Chemist was how much research goes into the products. Lip Grease started as something Flavia’s mom made for her dry skin, and they gave it to friends for years before bringing it to market. We get into the formulation process, why sourcing matters, and how ingredients from around the world make their way into the products on your shelf. And of course, we close with the lifestyle segment.

This is the patch:

• Flavia’s Albanian roots, moving to Toronto at ten, and building a skincare brand with her mom
• The R&D behind Lip Grease, from trying different formulas to sourcing 50 different lanolins across three continents
• Why innovation starts at the ingredient level and how they use research and supplier studies to make sourcing decisions
• The science behind Silky Water, its seawater ingredient from France, and the thinking behind its two-phase formula
• The persistence behind getting into Sephora Accelerate and what the program is helping Flavia figure out as a founder
• Lab fits, everyday essentials, and Flavia’s ideal Saturday in Toronto

Follow Flavia (@flaviaisonline) and Everyday Chemist (@everydaychemist.studios) on Instagram and explore Everyday Chemist.

All views expressed are my own.

For the season three finale, I'm bringing you something a little different. I have been following Courtney de Vries for a while now and she has this way of breaking down how to put outfits together that felt very true to how we break things down here on patch. She is a stylist and wardrobe consultant based in Toronto and if you are not already following her, you need to be.

You know how every episode we close with the lifestyle segment? Today we are dedicating the whole episode to it. Work style, the foundational pieces, and how to actually get dressed with intention whether you are heading into the office, on a work trip, or logging on from home.

This is the patch:

• Why style is not just about trends and really about getting the foundation right
• Courtney's building blocks: why your coat, your bag, and your shoes are the best pieces to invest in and why consignment and thrift stores are the smartest place to find them
• Work style across the eras, starting out with a tight budget, leveling up when you have a little more to play with, and navigating the new mom chapter when your life and your priorities have shifted
• Quick ways to pull together a great WFH outfit
• Packing for a work trip like a stylist and the rolling trick

Follow Courtney (@cor_style_) on Instagram and TikTok and check out her website.

All views expressed are my own.