This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - New York, Southern), published as received.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that GÖKÇE GÜVEN, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Kalder Inc. (“Kalder”), was sentenced to 25 months in prison for committing securities fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the investors in Kalder, a technology startup before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. GÜVEN pled guilty to one count of securities fraud on May 15, 2026, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.
“Gökçe Güven committed a brazen fraud at Kalder, her technology startup,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “She promised more than a dozen venture capital investors that Kalder had increasing revenue and a growing customer base—none of which was true—and then deployed those same lies and forgeries to obtain an immigration benefit. Along with our law enforcement partners, the women and men of this Office are committed to protecting the integrity of the private markets and eliminating fraud in the startup space.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Information and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
GÜVEN was the founder and CEO of Kalder, a New York-based technology startup focused on business loyalty and rewards programs. In April 2024, GÜVEN began raising Kalder’s “seed round,” soliciting investments from dozens of venture capitalists. GÜVEN provided prospective investors with false statements, misleading claims, and fabricated documents regarding Kalder’s revenue and brand partners. Among other things, GÜVEN transmitted to investors a pitch deck that misrepresented that Kalder had 26 brands “using Kalder” and 53 brands in “live freemium” (that is, using basic Kalder services free of charge). As to some brands, Kalder had only entered into pilot programs to provide services for a limited time period and typically at a heavily discounted price. Other brands had no agreement with Kalder whatsoever. Kalder’s pitch deck also falsely reported that Kalder’s recurring revenue had steadily grown month over month, reaching $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue. GÜVEN concealed the true financial condition of the company by maintaining two sets of books—one internal set containing Kalder’s accurate financial information that was prepared by Kalder’s outside accounting firm, and a second set with false and inflated numbers that GÜVEN transmitted to investors. GÜVEN also transmitted to investors a forged contract between Kalder and a purported brand partner. GÜVEN raised approximately $7 million from more than a dozen investors through these misrepresentations.
GÜVEN, a citizen of Turkey, also made false statements and fabricated documents as part of a visa application. Following the expiration of her student visa, GÜVEN caused Kalder to sponsor her for an O-1A visa, which is typically issued to individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics. GÜVEN’s application repeated the same sorts of misrepresentations that GÜVEN had provided to Kalder’s investors. GÜVEN also supplied reference letters purportedly signed by business executives but that, in fact, GÜVEN had digitally signed herself without the executives’ knowledge or consent. GÜVEN was issued an O-1A visa in the fall of 2025. That visa has since been revoked.
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In addition to the prison term, GÜVEN, 27, of New York and Turkey, was ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution to her victims, each in the amount of $6,717,997.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Mr. McDonald also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Nichols and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
