A TURKISH technology entrepreneur whose startup once attracted global attention has been charged in the United States for allegedly defrauding investors and misusing false business records to obtain a prestigious American visa.
Federal authorities in New York on Thursday announced criminal charges against Gökçe Güven, the 26-year-old founder and chief executive of Kalder Inc., a New York–based fintech marketing company. Güven is accused of orchestrating a scheme that raised about $7 million in seed capital through false claims about her company’s finances, partnerships, and market traction. Inc.com reported.
According to prosecutors, Güven is facing multiple counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Investigators say the money was also used to support an application for an O-1A ‘extraordinary ability’ visa, which she obtained in the United States last fall.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said Güven deliberately misrepresented Kalder’s performance and reputation to gain both investor funding and personal immigration benefits. He stated that she “created a false image of success” to convince backers and government authorities that her company was thriving.
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Court filings allege that Güven maintained two sets of financial records, one for internal use and another that dramatically inflated Kalder’s revenue. The falsified documents reportedly showed rapid monthly growth since the company’s founding in 2023, with revenue peaking at $1.4 million in March 2024.
The same records claimed Kalder had secured 26 brand partnerships, including high-profile names such as Godiva Chocolate and the International Air Transport Association. The company also allegedly said it was operating in ‘live freemium’ mode with 53 additional brands statements prosecutors say were untrue.
These claims reportedly convinced at least a dozen investors to commit approximately $7 million to the startup during its 2024 fundraising round.
Kalder’s supposed growth later earned Güven a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Marketing & Advertising category in January 2025. At the time, Forbes reported that Kalder had raised $11 million and was valued at $35 million—figures now under scrutiny by authorities.
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Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said the case highlights how founders can exploit investor trust. She added that people who engage in such schemes ultimately face accountability under the law.
If convicted, Güven could face severe penalties. Each securities and wire fraud charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years, while visa fraud is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The aggravated identity theft charge adds a mandatory two-year sentence. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in New York.
