Top tech startup news for today, Monday, October 21, 2019

Good morning! Below are some of the top tech startup news for today, Monday, October 21, 2019.

Gojek announces co-CEOs after founder Makarim leaves to join Indonesia’s new cabinet. Indonesian tech startup Gojek announced a change in leadership on Monday after CEO Nadiem Makarim left the company to join Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s new cabinet.
Gojek Group President Andre Soelistyo and the startup’s co-founder Kevin Aluwi will lead the company as co-CEOs. “Nadiem was summoned to the Palace by the President today to accept an appointment as a member of the new cabinet. We are very proud that our founder will play such a significant role in moving Indonesia onto the global stage,” a Gojek spokesperson said in a statement.

Rubicon Project acquires New York-based RTK.io for $11 million. Rubicon Project, a global exchange for advertising, has acquired RTK.io, a New York City-based provider of tools and services for publishers to control header bidding, for $11 million. Founded in 2014 and led by Gareth Glaser, CEO, RTK is a programmatic infrastructure and ad operations company providing publishers with an integrated user interface to configure, install, and implement a complete header bidding solution with reporting and analytics capabilities. RTK’s technology and team enable Rubicon to extend its Demand Manager product portfolio and client base. In the coming months, the company plans to integrate the two solutions to address the needs of publishers globally.

Biotech startup LyGenesis closes $4 million to begin clinical development of its liver regeneration technology. LyGenesis, a biotechnology startup company focused on organ regeneration, has closed $4 million to enable the company transition its lead program in liver regeneration into clinical development, beginning with a Phase 2a clinical trial for patients with end stage liver disease in 2020. The private financing of convertible notes came from Juvenescence, Ltd. and Longevity Vision Fund. Their technology uses lymph nodes as bioreactors to regrow functioning organs within a patient’s own body. Founded in 2017 by Michael Hufford, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based LyGenesis is a biotechnology company with an organ regeneration technology platform enabling a patient’s lymph nodes to be used as bioreactors to regrow functioning ectopic organs.

Bitcoin.com acquires Japanese blockchain development startup O3 Labs. Bitcoin.com, the firm backed by cryptocurrency investor Roger Ver, today announced that it has acquired Japanese blockchain development startup O3 Labs. The two firms did not disclose the price of the acquisition. O3 Labs has previously built applications for the NEO and Ontology blockchain networks. With this acquisition, it will now build mobile apps for Bitcoin.com, using the Bitcoin Cash network, to help them offer financial services. “We look forward to accelerating services in our mobile applications serving anyone in the world with an internet connection, regardless of nationality, socioeconomic status, or access to traditional finance,” said Bitcoin.com CEO Stefan Rust.

Fintech startup Finitive receives $2 million in venture debt from Silicon Valley Bank. Finitive, a NYC-based financial technology platform providing institutional investors with direct access to alternative lending investments, has completed a $2 million venture debt to further invest in its technology platform. The venture debt was backed by Silicon Valley Bank, a technology and innovation-focused bank. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jon Barlow, Finitive is a financial technology platform providing institutional investors with direct access to alternative lending investments. Since inception, Finitive has facilitated over $1.5 billion in capital commitments from top-tier institutional investors.

Enterprise software company Atlassian acquires Code Barrel, maker of Automation for Jira. Atlassian Corporation has acquired Code Barrel, a Surry Hills, Australia-based a maker of an automation app for Jira. In a blog post, Noah Wasmer, Atlassian Head of Tech Teams said, “..we’re excited to announce today that we have acquired Code Barrel, makers of Automation for Jira. The Code Barrel team obsesses over customers, works as an open company, and values giving back to the community. We’re delighted to welcome them all to the Atlassian team and are confident they’ll fit right in and be able to continue building great features from day one.” Co-founded by Andreas Knecht and Nick Menere, Code Barrel is the maker of Automation for Jira, a no-code rules builder that speeds up the automation of routine operations. Their automation software is used by teams at more than 6,000 organizations.

Upstream Security raises $30M Series B from Renault, Volvo Group, Hyundai, others, to protect connected vehicles from escalating cyber threats. Upstream Security, an Israeli cybersecurity startup for connected vehicles, has closed $30 Million Series B investment to protect connected vehicles from escalating cyber threats; validates cloud-based automotive cybersecurity as the right path forward to address automotive cyber attacks. The round, which brings total investment raise to date to$41 million, was led by some of the world’s largest OEM automotive vehicle manufacturers, insurance and fleet operators including Renault Venture Capital and included Volvo Group Venture Capital, Hyundai, Hyundai AutoEver, Nationwide Ventures, and others. Original Upstream investors Charles River Ventures, Glilot Capital and Maniv Mobility all participated in the round. Founded in by co-founder and CEO Yoav Levy, the Herzeliya, Israel-based Upstream Security is the first cybersecurity solution designed specifically for protecting connected vehicles from cyber-threats or misuse at rest and in motion.