Kalder Founder Gökçe Güven Gets 25 Months in Prison for Fraud

What investors were told

The pitch claimed that 26 brands used Kalder and that another 53 were receiving free services. In reality, some brands had only taken part in short pilots and others had no agreement at all. The claim that annual recurring revenue had reached $1.2 million was also untrue.

Prosecutors say two sets of financial records existed. One, prepared by an outsourced accounting firm, reflected Kalder's actual finances. The second, with inflated figures, was shared with investors. Güven also sent prospective investors a fake contract presented as signed between Kalder and a brand.

Visa application also involved

The office further said Güven submitted misleading information in an O-1A visa application, including reference letters signed digitally without the executives' permission. The visa, granted in autumn 2025, was later revoked.

Besides the prison term, the 27-year-old was ordered to pay $6.7 million in restitution to victims. US Attorney Jamie McDonald said Güven told investors the company's revenue and customer base were growing, then used the same misleading information and forged documents to obtain a visa. "We are committed to protecting the integrity of private markets and eliminating fraud in the startup ecosystem," he said.