Talk distribution application "Radiotalk" raises about 100 million yen from MBS Innovation Drive of Mainichi Broadcasting System and forms a business alliance | BRIDGE Technology & Startup Information

Startup studio XTech announced in March this year the establishment of its subsidiary, Radiotalk, which operates the talk distribution app Radiotalk. Radiotalk announced on the 20th that it had raised about 100 million yen from MBS Innovation Drive, a new business development subsidiary of MBS Media Holdings, the holding company of Mainichi Broadcasting Corporation, and formed a business alliance.

Radiotalk is an audio distribution platform that focuses on "disposable ear time" that allows you to listen to audio even if you can't watch videos, such as while moving, doing housework, or taking a bath. Currently, he is a leading Internet portal company, Excite, which is managed by XTech, and launched the product version in April 2018 as the first in-house venture system application project. Aiming to expand the business, it was transferred to XTech earlier this year and became an independent corporation with the aim of procuring external capital and collaborating with other companies.

Radiotalk has had many collaborations with MBS Radio. From August 2018, on his MBS radio program "Adoribu Radio" hosted by Kei Takamoto of the Mainichi Broadcasting Tokyo branch office, talkers (users who broadcast programs on Radiotalk) will give free talks on his Radiotalk. We are planning to broadcast at the end of every month. Through this business alliance, Radiotalk will be able to further utilize the content development know-how and assets of Mainichi Broadcasting / MBS Radio.

As a Radiotalk competitor, Voicy will probably come to mind for readers of THE BRIDGE. Voicy has successfully raised funding from multiple companies and angels, including media companies. With the birth of smart speakers and radio listening apps such as Radiko, the number of devices and apps that encourage increased listening demand is steadily increasing, and media companies are also focusing on developing a new demographic to replace traditional radio listeners. I would also like to pay attention to the prosperity of voice media startups in the future.