How much money did Gökçe Güven allegedly raise with a false pitch deck?

Gökçe Güven allegedly raised $7 million from investors by presenting a pitch deck with false information.

What accusations are made about Kalder's financial reporting?

Gökçe Güven is accused of maintaining two sets of financial books, one with false and inflated numbers, to hide the company's true financial condition.

Home / Crime and Justice / Fintech CEO Faces Fraud Charges After Forbes Nod

Fintech CEO Faces Fraud Charges After Forbes Nod

Q: What federal charges does Gökçe Güven face?

Gökçe Güven faces charges including securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

3 Feb

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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.

Fintech CEO Faces Fraud Charges After Forbes Nod

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.