The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York has brought federal criminal charges against Turkish entrepreneur Gokce Guven, the founder and CEO of the fintech startup Kalder. Guven now faces multiple serious accusations including securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors say she used false and misleading statements to raise roughly $7 million from investors.
Who is Gocke Guven?
Gocke Guven is a Turkish businesswoman and an alum of UC Berkeley. She founded Kalder, a fintech company that aimed to help brands run promotional campaigns through digital tools, as per a report from Daily Mail.
"I think in the next 5 to 10 years every brand will become a fintech company in the back end." @0xGokce, #ForbesUnder30 lister, spoke about her predictions for the future of marketing and fintech. pic.twitter.com/DOGrSoirIn
— Forbes (@Forbes) December 19, 2024
The startup attracted international investors and completed successful funding rounds, bringing in millions of dollars. Guven herself had been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the past, a recognition that often highlights young entrepreneurs seen as promising in their field. Oddly enough, many people named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list have been charged with fraud, be it Sam Bankman-Fried or Elizabeth Holmes.
What the indictment alleges
According to the charging documents, Güven gave investors heavily exaggerated numbers about Kalder’s business performance. Prosecutors say she claimed the company had 26 brands actively using its platform and 53 brands participating in free trials. The real figures, they allege, were much lower. The government claims Güven kept two separate sets of financial records, one showing the company’s true situation and another with inflated numbers that were shown to potential investors. They say this double bookkeeping played a major role in convincing people to invest.
Visa fraud accusation
Prosecutors also accuse Güven of lying on her O-1A visa application. The O-1A is a non-immigrant visa given to people who have “extraordinary ability” in their field and allows them to live and work in the United States. The indictment says Güven submitted reference letters that appeared to be signed by well-known executives, but were actually created by her digitally. After her student visa expired, authorities say she used these misleading documents to stay in the country.
Charges and what happens next
Guven has been indicted on four main counts: securities fraud, wire fraud (fraud carried out through electronic communications), visa fraud and aggravated identity theft. The case is still in its early stages. The indictment is an accusation, not a conviction. No judge or jury has yet decided whether the allegations are true.
