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Gökçe Güven, 35, Charged with Securities Fraud in New York 2025
A New York-based technology startup CEO has been charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft, authorities announced yesterday. Gökçe Güven, 35, allegedly built her seed round on fake revenue, inflated brand partnerships, and fabricated documents.
The charges arise from an alleged scheme by the defendant to defraud investors in her technology startup Kalder Inc. (“Kalder”) through material misrepresentations regarding Kalder’s financials, brand partners, and paying customers. Güven used lies about Kalder, as well as forged documents, to obtain an O-1A visa, reserved for individuals of “extraordinary ability,” that would allow her to live and work in the U.S.
Güven was previously arrested on November 27, 2025. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
“As alleged, Gökçe Güven built her seed round on fake revenue, inflated brand partnerships, and fabricated documents, and then used the same lies to secure a visa reserved for extraordinary ability,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Beware of fraud masquerading as entrepreneurship. This Office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously pursue market participants who use fraud and deception to victimize investors.”
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. “Güven allegedly curated a façade of her business ingenuity to unlawfully reap financial and personal benefits. The FBI will continue to expose any manipulative tactics employed to advertise misleading investment opportunities at the cost of their related stakeholders.”
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, said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “Investors placed their trust in this emerging fintech founder and CEO, only to be misled and scammed, as alleged. We commend the work and partnership of the FBI and the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force to put an end to self-serving executives and their fraudulent schemes.”
Güven was the founder and CEO of Kalder, a New York-based technology startup focused on business loyalty and rewards programs. Güven promoted Kalder as a “fintech-marketing platform” that brands could use to create and monetize customized reward programs. In April 2024, Güven began raising Kalder’s “seed round,” soliciting investments from dozens of venture capitalists. Güven provided prospective investors with false statements, misleading claims, and fabricated documents regarding Kalder’s revenue and brand partners.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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