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Turkish founder of fintech startup Kalder sentenced to 25 months for fraud
Gökçe Güven, the Turkish founder and former CEO of New York-based fintech startup Kalder, was sentenced to 25 months in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors of about $7 million.
Ally Daily Editorial DeskUpdated:
Gökçe Güven, the Turkish founder and former CEO of New York-based fintech startup Kalder, has been sentenced to 25 months in prison for defrauding investors, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said.
U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan imposed the sentence after Güven, 26, pleaded guilty in May to one count of securities fraud. As part of her plea, she agreed to forfeit nearly $7 million in proceeds from the scheme.
Inflated revenue and a forged contract
Prosecutors said Güven raised about $7 million from more than a dozen venture capital investors in a seed round that began in April 2024, marketing Kalder as a "fintech-marketing platform" for business loyalty and rewards programs.
Her pitch deck claimed 26 brands were "using Kalder," 53 were in "live freemium" and the company had reached $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue by March 2024. According to prosecutors, many of those brands were limited, heavily discounted pilots or had no agreement with Kalder at all, and she kept two sets of books: accurate figures prepared by the company's outside accountant and inflated figures sent to investors. She also sent prospective investors a forged contract with a purported brand partner.
Visa application
After her student visa expired, Kalder sponsored Güven for an O-1A visa, which is reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability. Prosecutors said her application repeated the misrepresentations made to investors and included support letters purportedly signed by business executives that she had signed herself. She received the visa in fall 2025.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a separate, partially settled civil action against Güven and Kalder on Oct. 2. That judgment remains subject to court approval.
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