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Business deals

Kirin dips toes into tech investment as beer market slumps

Developers of cooking robots and sleep app win brewer's backing

A cooking robot developed by Connected Robotics, a startup backed by Kirin. (Photo by Kenjiro Suzuki)

TOKYO -- Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings has made a string of investments in domestic startups in hopes of developing new business tie-ins beyond the shrinking alcohol market.

The maker of Kirin Ichiban beer has in recent weeks bought into Load&Road, which sells smart water bottles that regulate temperature; O:Inc., a provider of a sleep wellness app, and Connected Robotics, a developer of cooking robots

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