[Suicide Junkie]

If you really want to get X tech levels, you could have somebody else run the first 30 or so turns, researching only those techs that each player requested, then letting the queue idle. The AIs will be controlled manually, so they don't start expanding until the game really starts. Once everything is ready, the AI is turned back on, and the game file gets mailed back to you.

Starting conditions will be identical to normal, but you will have the extra tech levels, and a later date on your clock.