Federal prosecutors in New York charged Gökçe Güven, the founder and CEO of Kalder Inc., with defrauding investors. The 26-year-old citizen of Turkey was indicted for allegedly bilking venture capitalists of $7 million in seed money. She was charged with securities, wire and visa fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Prosecutors also alleged that Güven used the proceeds to secure an O-1A “extraordinary ability” visa, Inc. reported. Güven had been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Marketing & Advertising in January 2025.
How Prosecutors Say the Kalder Pitch Worked
Güven launched Kalder in New York as a “fintech marketing” firm that created rewards programs for dozens of brands. She reportedly kept two sets of books. One was a legitimate set for private use, while the other overstated Kalder’s revenue in documents given to potential investors.
Güven used those documents while seeking seed funding in 2024. They falsely claimed Kalder had recruited 26 brands, including Godiva chocolate and the International Air Transport Association. They also claimed the company was in “live freemium” status with 53 additional brands.
The same reports claimed revenue had grown every month since Kalder’s founding in 2023, peaking at $1.4 million in March 2024. That allegedly fraudulent sales pitch helped Güven raise about $7 million from at least a dozen investors.
From the 30 Under 30 List to an Indictment
Kalder’s purported success led to Güven’s inclusion on the Forbes list. At the time, the magazine reported that Kalder had raised $11 million and was valued at $35 million.
“Gökçe Güven allegedly exaggerated her company’s fiscal condition and partnerships to swindle more than seven million dollars from prospective investors before using these misrepresentations to unlawfully obtain a highly acclaimed visa to the United States,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.
Barnacle added that Güven “allegedly curated a façade of her business ingenuity to unlawfully reap financial and personal benefits.”
Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, also commented on the case. “This indictment displays the lengths that individuals will go through to defraud investors and the American public, and how they are ultimately caught to pay for their crimes,” Larco-Ward said.
Larco-Ward added: “Investors placed their trust in this emerging fintech founder and CEO, only to be misled and scammed, as alleged.”
What Güven Faces in Federal Court
If convicted, Güven faces up to 20 years in prison on each charge of securities and wire fraud. She also faces 10 years for visa fraud and two years for aggravated identity theft.
The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in New York.
