Kalder Founder Sentenced to 25 Months in Prison for Securities Fraud
Kalder CEO Gökçe Güven received a 25-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to defrauding investors with fabricated revenue and customer data.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has sentenced Gökçe Güven, founder and CEO of the rewards platform Kalder, to 25 months in prison. The sentencing follows an investigation into securities fraud committed during a 2024 fundraising round.
Prosecutors stated that Güven provided venture capital investors with forged documents that falsely claimed the company had secured significant brand partnerships and an annual recurring revenue of $1.2 million. Authorities discovered that the startup, which aimed to integrate loyalty programs into client websites, maintained two sets of financial records to facilitate the deception. Güven also reportedly utilized these fraudulent documents to support applications for immigration benefits.
This case underscores the persistent challenges in venture capital due diligence. While early-stage startups are often built on projections, the deliberate falsification of financial statements represents a criminal violation that undermines investor trust and market transparency.