Gökçe Güven, a 26-year-old founder of the fintech startup Kalder, has been charged with multiple counts of fraud, including securities fraud and identity theft. Güven, who was featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, allegedly misled investors during Kalder's seed round in April 2024, raising $7 million by presenting a pitch deck filled with false claims. The deck stated that 26 brands were using Kalder's services, but in reality, many were only engaged in discounted pilot programs, while others had no agreements with the company at all. The U.S. Department of Justice claims Güven inflated Kalder’s financial standing by presenting two sets of financial records, one of which contained inflated numbers to deceive investors. Authorities also allege that she used fraudulent information to secure a visa meant for individuals with extraordinary ability, enabling her to work in the U.S. Kalder, founded in 2022, aims to help companies monetize rewards programs, claiming high-profile clients like Godiva and backing from notable venture capital firms. Güven has indicated she will release a statement regarding the charges soon.