01.11.2026 08:30
Turkish entrepreneur Gökçe Güven (27), who made Forbes' "30 Under 30" list in the US, was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison for defrauding investors by inflating her company's revenues. Güven, who was found to have raised approximately $7 million in investment, was also ordered to pay $6.7 million in restitution to the victims.
In a case heard in New York City, USA, a verdict was reached regarding Gökçe Güven, founder of technology company Kalder. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sentenced Güven to 25 months in prison for securities fraud.
Güven, who initially faced charges carrying a total of up to 52 years in prison, pleaded guilty to securities fraud on May 15, 2026. The court announced its decision on October 30.
WILL PAY $6.7 MILLION IN COMPENSATION
The court ordered the 27-year-old Turkish entrepreneur to pay $6,717,997 in compensation to victims, in addition to the prison sentence.
Güven was also ordered to forfeit the same amount in criminal proceeds. Thus, in addition to the prison sentence, the young entrepreneur faced two separate financial obligations.
RAISED INVESTMENT BY INFLATING THE COMPANY'S REVENUES
According to the case file, Güven began the investment-raising process for Kalder in April 2024. Documents presented to potential investors stated that the company worked with 26 brands and that 53 brands benefited from its free services.
However, investigations revealed that with some brands only short-term pilot studies had been carried out, while with others there was no agreement at all.
It was also determined that the information that the company's annual recurring revenue reached $1.2 million did not reflect the truth.
It was found that Güven prepared a second set of accounting records containing inflated figures to present to investors, alongside the records showing the company's actual financial situation. Through this method, approximately $7 million was collected from more than a dozen investors.
IT EMERGED THAT HE OBTAINED A VISA WITH FAKE DOCUMENTS
It was determined that Güven did not only mislead investors but also used fake documents in his visa application to obtain the right to work and reside in the United States.
It was announced that Güven, who applied for an O-1A visa granted to individuals with extraordinary ability after his student visa expired, created digital signatures on behalf of some business executives without their knowledge and approval.
The visa in question, granted in the fall of 2025, was later reported to have been revoked.
HE HAD MADE FORBES' PRESTIGIOUS LIST
In 2025, Gökçe Güven was selected for Forbes magazine's "30 Under 30" list, which brings together young and successful entrepreneurs.
Güven, known in the business world with his New York-based company Kalder, had attracted investor interest with the financial technology platform he developed for brands' loyalty and reward programs.
However, the investigation launched due to misleading information given about the company's financial performance and brand partnerships resulted in the young entrepreneur being sentenced to prison.