Tech Bites: Week of October 21, 2019

Data management platform Lotame has launched a new ID solution, Lotame Cartographer, which pulls together the data from 1.4 billion unique consumers across 4 billion active IDs globally, by syncing with more than 90 adtech and martech platforms. Pooling the data at a device ID, individual and household level allows brands or publishers to better understand their audience "more than anyone could find alone", the company said in a release. OMD is a client at launch. It claims the pooling of the data is GDPR compliant.

Gojek chief executive and co-founder Nadiem Makarim has resigned to join Indonesia's cabinet. The tech founder announced he was joining the cabinet of President Joko Widodo on Monday (21 October). He did not reveal his specific role, only that he and Widodo talked about how to drive Indonesia's development by reforming bureaucracy and increasing investment.

Makarim's resignation comes during a crucial time for the ride-hailing company. Indonesia's biggest startup has been rapidly expanding across Southeast Asia since it was founded nine years ago and is expected to raise US$2bn in funding before year-end. The company will replace Makarim with two senior execs, president Andre Soelistyo and the other co-founder Kevin Aluwi, who will become joint CEOs.

Rubicon Project has acquired header bidding tech startup RTK.io for $11 million in cash. RTK’s solution is built on the open-source Prebid standard, which Rubicon helped co-found. It is the same open source framework as Demand Manager, the header bidding solution Rubicon Project launched in May 2019. In the coming months, the company plans to integrate the two solutions to address the growing needs of publishers globally. 

Iflix has struck a partnership with Xandr that includes the adoption of its strategic selling platform, Xandr Monetize. AT&T's adtech unit will also become a key programmatic provider for Iflix’s instream display solutions, allowing advertisers to employ native pause ads and leaderboard overlay ads on video inventory. Native pause ads enable advertisers to reach viewers during paused video, while leaderboard overlay ads display a brand’s message to users directly from within the viewing experience. Xandr will join Iflix's existing SSP partners that includes FreeWheel and SpotX.