Forbes 30 Under 30 Fintech CEO Faces Federal Fraud Charges Over Alleged Investor Deception

The Forbes 30 Under 30 list has garnered significant notoriety for featuring entrepreneurs who subsequently face fraud allegations. The roster of controversial alumni includes FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, Frank CEO Charlie Javice, AllHere Education founder Joanna Smith-Griffin, and Martin Shkreli, among others. The latest addition to this list is Gökçe Güven, a 26-year-old Turkish entrepreneur.

Güven, founder and CEO of New York-based fintech startup Kalder, was indicted last week on multiple federal charges including securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The startup, which operates under the tagline "Turn Your Rewards into [a] Revenue Engine," positions itself as a platform enabling companies to create and monetize customized rewards programs.

The Allegations

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Güven allegedly raised $7 million from more than a dozen investors during Kalder's seed funding round in April 2024 by presenting materially false information in the company's pitch deck.

Federal prosecutors allege that the pitch deck contained the following misrepresentations:

• Claimed 26 brands were "using Kalder" and 53 brands were in "live freemium" status, when in reality many companies had only been offered heavily discounted pilot programs
• Listed brands that had "no agreement with Kalder whatsoever—not even for free services"
• Falsely reported steady month-over-month recurring revenue growth since February 2023
• Misrepresented annual recurring revenue (ARR) as reaching $1.2 million by March 2024

The DOJ further alleges that Güven maintained two separate sets of financial records—one containing "false and inflated numbers" presented to investors to conceal the company's actual financial condition.

Immigration Fraud Allegations

Beyond financial fraud, prosecutors also accuse Güven of using fabricated information about Kalder and forged documents to fraudulently obtain a visa category reserved for individuals demonstrating "extraordinary ability," enabling her to live and work in the United States.

Company Background

Founded in 2022, Kalder claimed to serve high-profile clients including premium chocolatier Godiva and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade organization representing the majority of global airlines. The company also publicly announced backing from several prominent venture capital firms.

Güven was featured in the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in recognition of her entrepreneurial achievements. She indicated through her personal website that she would release a statement regarding the charges on Tuesday.