This is not the first time this list has "flipped," as SBF, Charlie Javice, and others have previously made the list.
Author: Lucas Ropek
Translation: Deep Tide TechFLow
Deep Tide Introduction: The Forbes 30 Under 30 list has added another "black history." Gökçe Güven, a 26-year-old Turkish founder and CEO of the fintech startup Kalder, has been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors claim that during a $7 million seed round financing in April 2024, she provided investors with a business plan filled with false information—claiming that 26 brands were using Kalder, while in reality, many companies had not signed any agreements with Kalder.
This is not the first time this list has "flipped," as SBF, Charlie Javice, and others have previously made the list.
The full text is as follows:
Today, the Forbes 30 Under 30 list has become notorious for the number of its honorees later accused of fraud. Notable "alumni" include FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, Frank CEO Charlie Javice, AI startup AllHere Education founder Joanna Smith-Griffin, and "pharmaceutical villain" Martin Shkreli, among others. Now, another member of this list has been sued by the federal government.
26-year-old Turkish entrepreneur Gökçe Güven, founder and CEO of the fintech startup Kalder, was charged last week with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
This New York-based fintech startup uses the slogan "turn your rewards into a revenue engine," claiming to help businesses create and monetize personalized reward programs. Founded in 2022, the company offers participating businesses the opportunity to earn a continuous revenue stream through partner alliance sales, Axios previously reported.
Güven was included in last year's Forbes 30 Under 30 list. The magazine noted in its introduction that Güven's clients include major chocolate manufacturer Godiva and the International Air Transport Association (IATA)—a trade organization representing most airlines worldwide. Kalder also claims to have received support from several well-known venture capital firms.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that during Kalder's seed round financing in April 2024, Güven successfully raised $7 million from over a dozen investors by showcasing a business plan filled with false information.
According to the government, Kalder's business plan claimed that 26 brands "are using Kalder," with another 53 brands in a "freemium model." However, officials stated that in many cases, Kalder only provided these companies with heavily discounted pilot programs. Other brands "have no agreements with Kalder at all—not even for free services," officials said in a press release announcing the lawsuit. The business plan also "falsely reported that Kalder's recurring revenue had been steadily increasing monthly since February 2023, reaching $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue by March 2024."
The government also accused Güven of maintaining two sets of independent financial books. One set contained "false and exaggerated figures," presented to investors or potential investors to conceal "the true financial condition of the company," the government claimed. The Department of Justice also accused Güven of using lies about Kalder and forged documents to obtain a visa category reserved for individuals with "extraordinary abilities," allowing her to live and work in the U.S.
TechCrunch reached out to her through Güven's personal website. The CEO stated that she would release a statement regarding these allegations on Tuesday.
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