A Turkish entrepreneur, Gökçe Güven, has been indicted by federal prosecutors in New York for allegedly orchestrating a scheme built on fraud, forgery and identity theft. The indictment, filed on January 29, 2026, outlines how Güven misrepresented her startup, Kalder Inc., inflating its revenue and falsely claiming significant business traction to extract approximately $7 million from investors. She is accused of using these fraudulent claims to secure an O-1A “extraordinary ability” visa, which allows individuals with exceptional talent to reside in the United States.
The 10-page superseding indictment details various charges against Güven, including securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of funds held in Kalder’s Mercury bank accounts, which prosecutors allege were obtained through deceptive practices.
Until the indictment, Güven had cultivated a public persona as an inspirational figure for young entrepreneurs, especially women, frequently appearing on Turkish media and discussing her successes. In a June 2025 interview with CNBC-E, she claimed to have raised $11 million for her company, a statement that prosecutors now challenge as misleading. They assert that she actually raised about $7 million even as concealing critical information regarding Kalder’s actual financial performance and customer base.
Background and Rise of Gökçe Güven
Güven, who was born in İzmir and raised in Adana before moving to Istanbul, attended the prestigious Robert College. She often highlighted her upbringing as a crucial formative period, which inspired her entrepreneurial ambitions. She initiated a project called “Kızlar Sahada Akademi,” aimed at promoting sports among girls. By January 2023, Güven claimed to have specialized in crypto and blockchain technology for several years, further positioning herself as a tech innovator.
In 2022, she founded Kalder, marketing it as a fintech platform that could integrate real-time rewards and cash-back programs for brands. Her public profile soared after being named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for Marketing and Advertising in late 2024, a recognition that investigators suggest was achieved while she was misrepresenting her company’s actual status.
The Allegations of Fraud
According to the indictment, Güven employed a two-books scheme to mislead investors. One internal accounting record revealed minimal revenue, while another, falsified version was presented to potential investors with inflated figures. For instance, projections made to investors claimed Kalder earned about $86,000 in April 2024, while actual revenue for that month was reported to be under $10,000.
the indictment alleges that she padded her customer base, claiming that numerous major brands were actively using Kalder, when many had only engaged in short-term pilot programs or had no agreements at all. Güven as well misrepresented Kalder’s annual recurring revenue, asserting it had reached $1.2 million by March 2024, contrary to internal records that depicted stagnant or minimal income.
Manipulation of Immigration Processes
Güven had been living in the United States on a student visa since 2018. As her visa approached expiration, she sought sponsorship from Kalder for an O-1A visa. Prosecutors allege that her application recycled the same exaggerated revenue claims used to attract investors, asserting that Kalder had already generated $1.5 million in revenue.
To support her application, she is accused of fabricating letters of endorsement from executives at various firms, creating false email accounts, and digitally forging signatures. Her first application was denied, but she reapplied with many of the same false claims and ultimately secured the visa in the fall of 2025.
Legal Proceedings and Implications
The implications of these allegations are significant, as the charges carry serious criminal exposure. The securities and wire fraud counts accuse Güven of using interstate communications and national securities exchanges to defraud investors. The visa fraud count revolves around her submission of false statements to immigration authorities, while the aggravated identity theft charge stems from her alleged use of others’ identities to forge endorsements.
The indictment seeks the forfeiture of funds linked to her alleged crimes, including those in Kalder’s accounts, and allows prosecutors to pursue substitute assets if the originals cannot be located. This case highlights the risks associated with inflated narratives in the tech industry and raises concerns about the integrity of immigration pathways for exceptional talent.
As the legal process unfolds, prosecutors anticipate a trial by mid-June 2026, citing the extensive evidence that must be reviewed and translated. If convicted on all charges, Güven could face significant prison time, financial penalties, and the collapse of her public persona as a successful entrepreneur.
The ongoing investigation and subsequent legal actions underscore the require for transparency and accountability in the tech ecosystem, particularly for individuals seeking to leverage their narratives for financial and legal gain.
