The California Experience – SWITCH 2026 Pre-Event

Join us for an evening where West Coast meets the Lion City, and we bring two of the world’s most connected innovation ecosystems to come together for one evening.

Taking place on the eve of SWITCH 2026, the California Experience is an exclusive networking reception bringing together the California delegation of the 2026 California–Singapore SWITCH Trade Mission with Singapore-based investors, government representatives, and business partners.

This is a great opportunity to engage directly with eight leading California organizations spanning universities, economic development agencies, and innovation infrastructure - and to discover the partnership, research, and investment opportunities available across one of the world's most dynamic innovation ecosystems.

The California Delegation includes:

• Southern California Wine Country EDC - One of only 3 accredited economic development organizations in California, fostering sustainable growth and innovation across life sciences, aerospace, and beyond
• University of California, Riverside - A strategic gateway for international institutions and companies entering the U.S. market, backed by a comprehensive Soft-Landing Platform
• San Diego State University - A leading public research university driving innovation and entrepreneurship, with strong partnerships across defense, maritime, aerospace, and AI
• Aggie Square - UC Davis's new innovation district combining world-class research and clinical expertise to accelerate breakthrough technologies.
• Murrieta Innovation Center - Southern California's premier life sciences and health technology incubator, offering a soft landing for international startups
• City of Riverside - An award-winning, internationally accredited team driving FDI attraction, smart city development, and growth across advanced manufacturing, climate and energy, healthcare and biotech, aerospace and innovation-driven enterprises.
• UC Berkeley Bakar Labs - UC Berkeley's flagship incubator supporting innovation in life sciences, energy, and materials
• Contra Costa Transportation Authority - A leader in autonomous vehicle technology, operating GoMentum Station, one of the nation's largest AV proving grounds

Event Agenda

6:00 PM | Registration

6:30 PM | Welcome Remarks

Emily Desai, Chief Deputy Director, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

6:35 PM | Welcome Remarks

George Ayache, Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy

6:40 PM | California Partners Sharing

7:15 PM | Networking Reception & Dinner

8:30 PM | Wrap Up & Goodbyes

​Meet the Speakers

Emily Desai - Chief Deputy Director

California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Emily Desai was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as the Chief Deputy Director at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Under the direction of the GO-Biz Director, Emily oversees all aspects of the organization, which is responsible for the state’s economic strategy. Prior to her time at GO-Biz, Emily served the U.S. Congress as a Senior Project Manager for international affairs, trade, and national security at the U.S. Government Accountability Office where she led high-impact reports, testimonies, and briefings for Congressional leaders to act on emerging regulatory challenges. Emily was appointed by Secretary Gina Raimondo to serve on the U.S. Investment Advisory Council and appointed by Ambassador Katherine Tai to serve on the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. She is a 2024 U.S. Presidential Leadership Scholar.

George Ayache - Senior Commercial Officer

U.S. Embassy

George Ayache joined the U.S. Commercial Service as a Foreign Service Officer in April 2022. He is currently the Commercial Officer and Digital Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, overseeing the ICT, financial services, and franchising portfolios. Previously, he served in Mexico City from July 2022 to July 2024, where he managed a team of three Commercial Specialists whose portfolios included infrastructure, transportation, government procurement, design & construction, automotive, and travel & tourism. Prior to joining the Commercial Service, he worked for over five years as an International Trade Compliance Analyst in Enforcement & Compliance at the Department of Commerce, dealing with antidumping and countervailing duty cases.

Register now to be part of this exclusive evening, with the opportunity to connect directly with each delegation throughout the night.

Come for the California experience. Stay for the connections that could take you across the Pacific.

Hosted by

GO-Biz

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more.

StartupX

StartupX is a global innovation partner for those building what’s next. We collaborate with corporates, governments, and startups to launch ventures, scale businesses, and drive bold transformation. Since 2018, we’ve supported startups from 110+ countries and partnered with some of the world’s most forward-thinking companies. Founded by entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders, we built StartupX to challenge the status quo of how innovation gets done in Asia.

Community Partner: Lorong AI

Lorong AI is Singapore’s AI community hub, borne out of the National AI Strategy 2.0. We bring together AI practitioners across government, industry, research and the broader ecosystem, providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Get involved: Learn more about Lorong AI | Speaker Sign-up | WhatsApp Community | LinkedIn | X

Priority Access for Investors & Business Partners

As this event is curated to support meaningful connections between the California delegation and Singapore's business community, priority will be given to businesses, academic institutions, government representatives and others actively exploring opportunities with California. We appreciate your understanding if we're unable to accommodate all requests, and sincerely thank you for your interest.