Federal prosecutors have charged the founder of fintech startup Kalder with multiple fraud-related offenses, adding another name to the growing list of Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees facing criminal allegations.
According to TechCrunch, 26-year-old founder Gökçe Güven, a Turkish national, has been indicted on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment was announced last week by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Güven leads the New York-based fintech company Kalder and was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2025.
Her case is the latest in a series of scandals involving former honorees. Other past recipients who later faced criminal charges include Sam Bankman-Fried, Charlie Javice, Joanna Smith-Griffin, and Martin Shkreli.
According to her Forbes profile, Güven’s company claimed major clients such as Godiva and the International Air Transport Association. Founded in 2022, Kalder promoted itself as a platform that helps companies monetize customer rewards programs and reported backing from prominent venture capital firms.
Federal prosecutors allege that Güven raised $7 million during a seed funding round in April 2024 by presenting investors with misleading and false information.
According to the indictment, Kalder’s pitch deck claimed that 26 brands were actively using the platform and that 53 others were in “live freemium” status. Investigators say many of those companies were merely offered discounted pilot programs, while some had no relationship with Kalder at all.
Officials also allege that the pitch materials contained false revenue data.
Prosecutors say the company claimed its revenue had grown steadily since February 2023 and that it reached $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue by March 2024. The government maintains those figures were fabricated.
In addition, Güven is accused of keeping two separate sets of financial records. One allegedly contained inflated numbers and was shown to investors to hide Kalder’s true financial condition.
The charges also include immigration-related offenses. Prosecutors allege that Güven used false information and forged documents to obtain an O-1A visa, which is reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability,” allowing her to live and work in the United States.
Authorities say the misrepresentations about Kalder’s business performance played a central role in securing the visa.
The case has renewed criticism of the Forbes 30 Under 30 program and raised questions about vetting practices within both media and venture capital circles.
Originally intended to highlight young innovators, the list has increasingly faced scrutiny as multiple former honorees have been charged with or convicted of fraud-related crimes.
Legal experts say the indictment underscores the need for greater due diligence in startup funding and recognition programs, particularly in fast-growing sectors such as fintech.
If convicted, Güven could face significant prison time and financial penalties.
