Sparking a Chain of New Challenges from Hakodate. Launching the Podcast 'Kaikou Radio' to Deliver the Authentic Voices of Local Challengers
Finch Inc. launched 'Kaikou Radio' on April 3, 2026, a new podcast delivering the real voices and struggles of local challengers in Hakodate to build a startup ecosystem.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 05:22
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 21:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 14:31 (113h 29m after Collected)
Finch Inc. (Headquarters: Hakodate City, Hokkaido; Representative Director: Hayato Sasaki) has started distributing "Kaikou Radio," a new podcast program that delivers the voices of people continuing to take on challenges from the local field of Hakodate, starting Friday, April 3, 2026. This program is a new audio content format that broadcasts the thoughts, intentions, and ways of life of people who are in the process of challenging, rather than focusing on completed achievements.
■ Background and Concept of Launching the New Program 'Kaikou Radio'
In 1859, Hakodate opened its port to the world and has developed as a "city of trade" where culture, religion, and industry intersect. We at Finch launched this project aiming for a "Second Port Opening" to connect with the world from this land once again.
What we trade through this program is not "goods," but "people." In an era overflowing with information, what truly holds value is not the finished product, but the thoughts, will, and lifestyle of individuals in the midst of their challenges.
On "Kaikou Radio," we broadcast the authentic reality of challengers in Hakodate—"what they think, what they struggle with, and why they choose to challenge themselves in this place." Through this program, we aim to generate empathy and connections, becoming the "starting point of a current" that births new endeavors.
■ Program Structure: Delving into the Guest's 'Life' and 'Challenges' with Common Themes
"Kaikou Radio" invites one guest and delivers approximately 20-minute episodes once a week, spanning a total of 4 episodes per guest.
The program does not have a rigid framework, but rather draws out the guests' charm and true feelings centering around the following common themes:
The thoughts behind the challenge: We delve deeply into the background of the guest's current endeavors and their strong passion for their business or activities.
Life patterns that reveal their 'personality': We unravel the core of the guest's personality, including their upbringing and experiences that shaped their current values.
The future of Hakodate and its ecosystem: We exchange opinions on their feelings towards the local region of Hakodate and what the future local ecosystem should look like.
■ Distribution Overview
Launch Date: Friday, April 3, 2026 *Weekly distribution thereafter
Distribution Platforms: Spotify, YouTube
Program URLs:
Spotify: Click here to listen
YouTube: Click here to watch
■ The Memorable First Guest
For our first guest, we welcomed Mr. Kohei Kurahashi, President and CEO of AQSim Inc.
We will distribute a story focusing on his company and Mr. Kurahashi himself across 4 episodes.
AQSim Inc. Representative Kohei Kurahashi
Kohei Kurahashi, President and CEO of AQSim Inc.
Born in 2000 (25 years old). From Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture. First-year master's student at the Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University. Seeing potential in "Deep Tech x Fisheries" using university research seeds, he founded a Hokkaido University spin-off startup in Hakodate City that provides aquaculture implementation consulting. Currently, he is working on a PoC for building an onshore aquaculture plant through the cultivation of spotted halibut at his own plant in Hakodate City.
■ About Finch Inc.
Finch Inc. is a joint venture composed of members belonging to Hokkaido University, Future University Hakodate, and Hokkaido University of Education Hakodate, who have launched their own startups. In Hakodate, which is considered an advanced city in facing social issues, we advocate for the "Finch Type Startup"—adapting to and evolving with social issues—and are working on building a startup ecosystem centered around higher education institutions in Hakodate. We conduct and support various events, and provide marketing and content development support for startups and local businesses using the audio distribution service Spotify.
- Established: September 2025
- Location: 7-6 Asahicho, Hakodate City
- Representative: Hayato Sasaki
- Directors: Bunta Matsushita (funovo Inc.), Kohei Kurahashi (AQSim Inc.), Ryosuke Hayasaka (Roots Inc.)
■ Inquiries regarding this matter
Finch Inc. Contact: Sasaki (Representative)
Email: contact@finch.co.jp
HP: https://www.finch.co.jp/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4T54fODRx0eHwkpx2CRgC
■ Background and Concept of Launching the New Program 'Kaikou Radio'
In 1859, Hakodate opened its port to the world and has developed as a "city of trade" where culture, religion, and industry intersect. We at Finch launched this project aiming for a "Second Port Opening" to connect with the world from this land once again.
What we trade through this program is not "goods," but "people." In an era overflowing with information, what truly holds value is not the finished product, but the thoughts, will, and lifestyle of individuals in the midst of their challenges.
On "Kaikou Radio," we broadcast the authentic reality of challengers in Hakodate—"what they think, what they struggle with, and why they choose to challenge themselves in this place." Through this program, we aim to generate empathy and connections, becoming the "starting point of a current" that births new endeavors.
■ Program Structure: Delving into the Guest's 'Life' and 'Challenges' with Common Themes
"Kaikou Radio" invites one guest and delivers approximately 20-minute episodes once a week, spanning a total of 4 episodes per guest.
The program does not have a rigid framework, but rather draws out the guests' charm and true feelings centering around the following common themes:
The thoughts behind the challenge: We delve deeply into the background of the guest's current endeavors and their strong passion for their business or activities.
Life patterns that reveal their 'personality': We unravel the core of the guest's personality, including their upbringing and experiences that shaped their current values.
The future of Hakodate and its ecosystem: We exchange opinions on their feelings towards the local region of Hakodate and what the future local ecosystem should look like.
■ Distribution Overview
Launch Date: Friday, April 3, 2026 *Weekly distribution thereafter
Distribution Platforms: Spotify, YouTube
Program URLs:
Spotify: Click here to listen
YouTube: Click here to watch
■ The Memorable First Guest
For our first guest, we welcomed Mr. Kohei Kurahashi, President and CEO of AQSim Inc.
We will distribute a story focusing on his company and Mr. Kurahashi himself across 4 episodes.
AQSim Inc. Representative Kohei Kurahashi
Kohei Kurahashi, President and CEO of AQSim Inc.
Born in 2000 (25 years old). From Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture. First-year master's student at the Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University. Seeing potential in "Deep Tech x Fisheries" using university research seeds, he founded a Hokkaido University spin-off startup in Hakodate City that provides aquaculture implementation consulting. Currently, he is working on a PoC for building an onshore aquaculture plant through the cultivation of spotted halibut at his own plant in Hakodate City.
■ About Finch Inc.
Finch Inc. is a joint venture composed of members belonging to Hokkaido University, Future University Hakodate, and Hokkaido University of Education Hakodate, who have launched their own startups. In Hakodate, which is considered an advanced city in facing social issues, we advocate for the "Finch Type Startup"—adapting to and evolving with social issues—and are working on building a startup ecosystem centered around higher education institutions in Hakodate. We conduct and support various events, and provide marketing and content development support for startups and local businesses using the audio distribution service Spotify.
- Established: September 2025
- Location: 7-6 Asahicho, Hakodate City
- Representative: Hayato Sasaki
- Directors: Bunta Matsushita (funovo Inc.), Kohei Kurahashi (AQSim Inc.), Ryosuke Hayasaka (Roots Inc.)
■ Inquiries regarding this matter
Finch Inc. Contact: Sasaki (Representative)
Email: contact@finch.co.jp
HP: https://www.finch.co.jp/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4T54fODRx0eHwkpx2CRgC