How startups can survive turbulent times | Boeing’s uncrewed capsule links up with space station

Sage advice for startups: Our guest on the GeekWire Podcast is entrepreneur and business leader Matt Hulett (above), a Seattle tech veteran and the author of the new book, “Unlock: 5 Questions to Unleash Your Company’s Hidden Power.” In addition to growth lessons from his book, we discuss a timely topic: surviving tough economic times. Listen to the show, and read our notes.

Tech companies put brakes on hiring amid signs of downturn: In isolated situations, some are even rescinding job offers after they’ve been signed, creating a difficult situation for people who had canceled interviews or turned down competing offers from other companies. Read more. 

Uncrewed Boeing capsule links with space station: Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner space taxi docked with the International Space Station for the first time during an uncrewed flight test, marking one more big step toward being cleared to carry astronauts to orbit. But it wasn’t easy. 

Humans and machines, together: As part of our recent return to Pittsburgh, we visited the Human and Robot Partners Lab at Carnegie Mellon University. “We think a lot about how robots can be good partners for people,” said Henny Admoni, an assistant professor at CMU who leads the lab. Read more. 

Speaking of robots: In a new book called “Email From the Future,” author Michael Rogers describes a future world of 2084 where there’s a tax on robots — and ultra-rich tech titans become as extinct as the titanosaurs. 

Seattle teens win big at international science fair: Their ideas range from a high-tech warning system that alerts drivers when animals are near roadways, to an AI-based model that emulates wildfire growth. Impressive stuff from the junior geeks. Meet all the winners. 

Backpack thriller: In addition to writing code, Hadi Partovi should teach more people how to write suspenseful mysteries on Twitter. The Code.org CEO turned an unfortunate incident at an airport in California into a thriller of sorts this week as he detailed attempts to locate lost belongings.

Life sciences news roundup: Seagen’s CEO resigns, how biotech companies can survive economic uncertainty, and an interview with Providence’s new digital chief, along with other updates. Read more. 

Thanks for reading, and we hope you're able to get out and enjoy this beautiful weekend. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, and co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com.