According to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, many alumni of this list later face federal fraud charges. Recently another alumna of the list has been charged: Gokce Guven, a 26-year-old Turkish citizen, founder and CEO of the fintech startup Kalder. She has been charged with alleged securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and misuse of someone else’s identifying information.
Kalder – a New York fintech startup that uses the slogan Turn Your Rewards into a Revenue Engine and claims it can help companies create and monetize rewards programs. The startup was founded in 2022, and it offers participating companies the opportunity to generate steady revenue streams through affiliate sales; industry media outlets had previously reported on this.
Guven was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list last year. Among the clients mentioned are the renowned Godiva chocolate and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Kalder also claims to have backing from a number of leading venture funds.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, during the seed round in April 2024 Guven raised about $7 million from more than a dozen investors after a presentation that was filled with false information.
According to government officials, Kalder’s presentation deck claimed that 26 brands “use Kalder” and another 53 brands are in “live freemium” mode. Officials note that in practice Kalder often offered significantly discounted pilot programs for many of these companies; other brands “had no contracts – not even free services.” It was also noted that the presentation “misstated” Kalder’s ongoing revenue, which allegedly steadily grew since February 2023, and by March 2024 reached $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue.
The government also alleges that Guven maintained two separate sets of financial books: one of them contained “false and inflated figures” that fundraising filings used to hide the “true financial state of the company.” It is also alleged that Guven used deception about Kalder and forged documents to obtain a visa category reserved for people with “extraordinary abilities,” which would have allowed her to live and work in the United States.
According to her personal website, Guven stated that she would issue a statement regarding the charges on the upcoming Tuesday.
Context of the Charges and Kalder’s Data
This case underscores growing attention to funding transparency and regulatory compliance in the startup space, and how false information can affect assessment and accountability of industry participants. Officials emphasize that the charges remain part of the investigation, and they must be proven in court.
The situation underscores the importance of thorough financial accounting and legal compliance in the fintech entrepreneurship world: investor and customer trust depends on transparency and accuracy of data. The investigation continues, and further steps will depend on the court’s decision.
