Home / Crime and Justice / Fintech CEO Faces Fraud Charges After Forbes Nod
Fintech CEO Faces Fraud Charges After Forbes Nod
3 Feb
Summary
- Fintech founder Gökçe Güven charged with fraud last week.
- Kalder CEO allegedly raised $7 million with a false pitch deck.
- Accused of maintaining dual financial books to mislead investors.
Gökçe Güven, the 26-year-old founder and CEO of the fintech startup Kalder, is facing federal charges including securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Güven was recognized on last year's Forbes 30 Under 30 list. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that in April 2024, Güven raised $7 million from more than a dozen investors.
Prosecutors claim Kalder's pitch deck falsely stated that 26 brands were using the platform and 53 were in 'live freemium.' In reality, many companies were only offered heavily discounted pilot programs, and some had no agreement with Kalder at all. The pitch deck also allegedly misrepresented Kalder's recurring revenue, claiming it reached $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue by March 2024.
Furthermore, Güven is accused of maintaining two separate sets of financial books, with one containing inflated numbers presented to investors to hide the company's actual financial status. The DOJ also alleges that Güven used false information and forged documents to secure a visa for individuals of extraordinary ability.
Güven stated she would issue a statement regarding the charges on Tuesday.
