For the starting techs, have a host play the first 30 turns, and research exactly what each person chose. At the end, they would reactivate the AIs and mail the game to the first player!
Your starting tech rules could be anything you wanted; X techs, X research points, max tech in area of your choice, no choosing colony techs, anything a human can understand.
You could even have the host upgrade your starting facilities if you choose to "start" with extra resource extraction tech.
You could also start the game with a ship/base in orbit, or a fighter squadron build.
You could have a truly Nomadic start if you're playing
Pirates & Nomads . Just have the host build a resource base with a space yard to go with it and then abandon the planet for you!