Technology

River Acquires Wind to Build the Super App for Global Citizens

Published

1 year ago

April 21, 2025

River, Lunchbox, and Pathao founders join forces to lead the fintech transformation and aim to serve 1 billion worldwide users.

NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — River, a fast-growing U.S.-based technology company redefining global mobility through telecommunications and financial infrastructure, announced the acquisition of Wind, a decentralized payments and banking platform. The move marks a significant milestone in River’s vision to build a single super-app for the world’s 300 million global citizens—people living outside their home countries.

“We’re helping people move money, build wealth, and live with dignity—on one seamless platform.” – Ruhin Hossain, CEO

The newly acquired platform will integrate River’s borderless payments and financial tools directly within its eSIM-powered experience. This positions River as a leader in vertically integrated solutions for global connectivity and digital finance.

A Three-Part Super App: Telco, Payments, Banking

Telecommunications: River’s eSIM service was launched in 2024 and reached $10 million ARR in under 12 months. Today, it serves 30,000+ recurring users and over 100,000 one-time buyers globally.Payments: With the acquisition of Wind, users will now be able to send and receive stablecoin-powered transactions with up to 70% lower fees than legacy providers, hold multicurrency wallets, and pay bills—no bank required.Banking: River’s upcoming roadmap includes fully decentralized banking tools to unlock cross-border users’ income, credit, and savings access.

“This is not just an acquisition—it’s an evolution,” said Hussain M. Elius, founder of Wind and now CTO of River. “We’re building the operating system for a borderless life. No more fragmented tools. No more gatekeepers.”

Elius is the founder and former CEO of Pathao, South Asia’s largest super app with over 5 million users. He joins Ruhin Hossain, CEO of River, and Nabeel Alamgir, River’s lead investor, advisor, and founder of restaurant tech unicorn Lunchbox, to drive River’s fintech expansion.

“This isn’t about hype,” said Chairman Nabeel Alamgir. “It’s about fast money, simple mobile, and earning trust where legacy systems failed.”

A Profitable, Rapidly Scaling Platform
River has achieved profitability and rapid scale without outside investment. The company is currently valued between $100 million and $200 million and expects to grow its user base from six figures to several million by year-end.

Key growth drivers include:

Enterprise partnerships, including a recent deal to onboard over one million migrant workersLicensing in key global markets, including the EU and UAEStrategic focus on diaspora populations, who sent over $800 billion in remittances last year

“We’re closing the loop,” said Ruhin Hossain, CEO of River. “We started by connecting people across borders. Now we’re helping them move money, build wealth, and live with dignity—on one seamless platform.”

About River
River is a U.S.-based technology company building the operating system for global citizens. With eSIM connectivity, decentralized financial tools, and culturally attuned support, River empowers diasporic communities with seamless global access. Licensed in the EU and UAE, River offers a compliant, low-cost financial infrastructure—including multicurrency wallets, stablecoin payments, and next-gen banking solutions—for individuals and enterprises navigating a borderless world.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/river-acquires-wind-to-build-the-super-app-for-global-citizens-302433681.html

SOURCE River

Technology

FranklinWH Introduces Enhanced 15 kWh aPower in Australia and New Zealand

Published

1 hour ago

May 3, 2026

Expansion comes as policy shifts and rising power costs accelerate demand for residential energy storage

SYDNEY, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FranklinWH, a leading provider of whole-home energy management and battery storage solutions, today announced the launch of its enhanced 15 kWh aPower battery in Australia and New Zealand, as demand for residential energy storage continues to grow, driven by evolving policy settings and increasing interest in energy independence.

The updated aPower builds on the company’s established platform, increasing usable capacity from 13.6 kWh to 15 kWh and raising warrantied throughput from 43 MWh to 60 MWh, an increase of 40 percent. These updates deliver more usable energy over the life of the system while maintaining the same footprint and price.

“The energy landscape is shifting quickly, and more homeowners are thinking beyond the upfront specs to what really pays off over time,” said Steve Ruskin, General Manager of FranklinWH Australia. “This upgrade is about delivering more performance over the life of the system, more usable energy, greater throughput, while staying true to our ‘buy once, buy right’ philosophy.”

The increase in warrantied throughput translates into savings for homeowners. Based on typical usage patterns and an electricity rate of A$0.35 per kilowatt-hour, the additional throughput may represent up to approximately A$5,950 in value over the lifetime of the system. The increase in usable capacity also improves energy density, lowering the effective cost per kilowatt-hour and supporting more efficient use of stored energy.

The 15 kWh configuration also aligns with current and upcoming policy frameworks benefitting residential battery adoption. This includes the updated Cheaper Home Batteries Program, with changes coming into effect for Australian homeowners from 1 May, 2026, helping households maximise value as incentives continue to evolve.

As the residential battery market expands, FranklinWH continues to focus on reliability and system performance. The aPower incorporates design elements to support durability, including structural reinforcement to reduce cell stress over time, per-cell temperature monitoring, and the separation of the battery pack and control systems to maintain reliable performance.

“We believe performance should be measured over years, not just at installation,” Ruskin added. “We focus on building systems that deliver consistent, reliable results over time. That long-term perspective is what ultimately defines value for homeowners.”

The aPower is designed to operate as part of the FranklinWH System, an integrated home energy management platform that coordinates energy generation, storage, and consumption. The system is designed to optimise multiple energy inputs, provide reliable backup power, and support more efficient and independent energy use at the household level.

About FranklinWH

FranklinWH Energy Storage is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH System. FranklinWH is a market-oriented, research-driven company focused on next-generation residential energy management and storage solutions. Located in Macquarie Park, Sydney with a global head office in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH’s team has decades of experience in energy systems, from design, through manufacturing, to sales and installation. FranklinWH is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions.

Contact: Media@franklinwh.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/franklinwh-introduces-enhanced-15-kwh-apower-in-australia-and-new-zealand-302759086.html

SOURCE FranklinWH Australia Pty Ltd

Technology

Peninsula Visa Launches Comprehensive OCI Processing Services

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2026

Peninsula Visa, a trusted leader in immigration and visa processing services with over 50 years of expertise, today announced the launch of its comprehensive Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) processing services. To celebrate this milestone, Peninsula Visa is offering new users an exclusive 20% discount with promo code OCI20 at checkout.

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Peninsula Visa, a trusted leader in immigration and visa processing services with over 50 years of expertise, today announced the launch of its comprehensive Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) processing services. To celebrate this milestone, Peninsula Visa is offering new users an exclusive 20% discount with promo code OCI20 at checkout.

For 50 years, Peninsula Visa has helped families navigate immigration. OCI processing is one of our most impactful services, connecting the Indian diaspora to their heritage. We’re proud to bring our expertise to help families secure OCI status with confidence. Evan James, CEO

A Full Suite of OCI Services

Peninsula Visa’s OCI services cover every stage of the OCI lifecycle, ensuring that members of the Indian diaspora receive expert support from start to finish.

The four service types now available are:

New OCI Application — For foreign nationals of Indian origin, spouses of Indian citizens or existing OCI card holders, and minor children with at least one Indian parent applying for OCI status for the first time.OCI Card Renewal — For card holders whose OCI card has expired, or whose linked passport has been renewed or replaced and requires an updated booklet.Re-issuance (Age Milestones) — OCI cards must be re-issued when minors reach the age of 18 and again when card holders turn 50, due to significant changes in appearance. Peninsula Visa guides clients through both transitions seamlessly.Miscellaneous OCI Services — Covering corrections to existing records, lost or damaged card replacement, address changes, and other administrative updates to the OCI file.

Why Choose Peninsula Visa for Your OCI Application

Peninsula Visa brings decades of institutional knowledge and a client-first philosophy to every OCI case.

Key value propositions include:

Expert Guidance — Dedicated OCI specialists with deep knowledge of consulate requirements, eligibility rules, and documentation standards across all service types.High Approval Rate — A meticulous multi-stage review process that identifies and resolves issues before submission, dramatically reducing the likelihood of rejection or delay.Fast Turnaround — Standard processing in 12-15 Business Days for most OCI service types, with real-time status updates throughout the process.End-to-End Support — Personalized document checklists, secure document uploads, expert form preparation, consulate submission, and post-submission tracking — all in one place.

Launch Promotion

Save 20% on any OCI service — new users only

OCI20

Enter code OCI20 at checkout. Available to new users. No expiration date.

Leadership Perspective

“For 50 years, Peninsula Visa has helped individuals and families navigate the complexities of immigration documentation. OCI processing is one of the most impactful services we have ever added — it directly connects the Indian diaspora to their heritage country in a lasting, meaningful way. We are proud to bring our proven expertise and client-centric approach to this important service, and we look forward to helping thousands of families secure their OCI status with confidence.”

Founded in 1975, Peninsula Visa has built its reputation on precision, transparency, and a genuine commitment to client outcomes. The addition of OCI processing services reflects the company’s ongoing mission to expand its offerings to meet the evolving needs of immigrants and their families across the United States.

Get Started Today

Eligible applicants can begin their OCI journey by visiting Peninsula Visa’s dedicated OCI Services page. New users can take advantage of the 20% launch discount by entering promo code OCI20 at checkout when selecting any OCI service type.

Media Contact

Evan James, Peninsula Visa, 1 4087277515, media@peninsulavisa.com, https://peninsulavisa.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/peninsula-visa-launches-comprehensive-oci-processing-services-302760544.html

SOURCE Peninsula Visa

Technology

Peninsula Visa Launches Comprehensive OCI Processing Services

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2026

A Full Suite of OCI Services

Peninsula Visa’s OCI services cover every stage of the OCI lifecycle, ensuring that members of the Indian diaspora receive expert support from start to finish.

The four service types now available are:

Why Choose Peninsula Visa for Your OCI Application

Peninsula Visa brings decades of institutional knowledge and a client-first philosophy to every OCI case.

Key value propositions include:

Launch Promotion

Save 20% on any OCI service — new users only

OCI20

Enter code OCI20 at checkout. Available to new users. No expiration date.

Leadership Perspective

Get Started Today

Media Contact

Evan James, Peninsula Visa, 1 4087277515, media@peninsulavisa.com, https://peninsulavisa.com/