Forbes 30 Under 30 founder charged with fraud in Kalder case

� US prosecutors charged Gokce Guven, founder of fintech startup Kalder and a Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, with investor fraud and visa fraud.

� She allegedly misled investors and US authorities. Arrest took place in November 2025.

� Kalder raised $7M in seed funding in 2024 at a $35M valuation and claimed strong brand adoption and growing revenue.

� Prosecutors say some brand deals were only pilots or never existed. The company allegedly kept two sets of books, with inflated numbers shown to investors and even reflected on Forbes.

� The same false data was reportedly used to obtain an O-1 visa, including recommendation letters Guven allegedly signed herself.

If convicted, she faces up to 20 years for investor fraud, plus additional sentences for visa fraud and identity misuse.

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