Gokce Guven Fraud Case

Reference TimelineLast updated MAY 17
SUMMARY

Gökçe Güven, founder and former CEO of Kalder, pleaded guilty to securities fraud and visa fraud on May 17, 2026, and is scheduled for sentencing in September 2026. As of May 17, 2026, Güven has agreed to forfeit nearly $7 million in proceeds from her fraudulent activities. Federal prosecutors had previously filed a superseding indictment on April 15, 2026, adding a second aggravated identity theft charge related to a forged corporate partnership contract, accusing her of defrauding investors of approximately $7 million during Kalder's seed funding round. Güven was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2025, with Kalder reportedly raising $11 million and achieving a $35 million valuation.

Timeline

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Timeline of developments

May 2026 1 developments

  1. Gökçe Güven, founder and former CEO of Kalder, has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and visa fraud.

    Gökçe Güven, founder and former CEO of Kalder, has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and visa fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced in September 2026 and has agreed to forfeit nearly $7 million in proceeds from her actions.

April 2026 1 developments

  1. Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment adding a second aggravated identity theft charge against Gökçe Güven, founder and CEO of Kalder Inc.

    Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment adding a second aggravated identity theft charge against Gökçe Güven, founder and CEO of Kalder Inc., related to a forged corporate partnership contract. Güven is accused of defrauding investors of approximately $7 million during Kalder's seed funding round by allegedly overstating the company's financials, brand partners, and paying customers.

January 2026 1 developments

January 2025 1 developments

  1. Gokce Guven was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Marketing & Advertising, with the articl…

    Gokce Guven was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Marketing & Advertising, with the article citing Kalder's reported success, including $11 million raised and a $35 million valuation.