Here is one strategy I tried recently:

Build your free capital ship right away (after building the capital ship factory).

Use your capital ship (battleship is good) to clear out enemies on nearby worlds. Have one or two colony ships follow your capital ship and colonize the new worlds. Make sure you upgrade each world so it doesnt take money from you each second. (Thats the icon that looks like a half globe map, then the triangular icon).

Build metal and crystal extractors and a trade port in each world (extractors first). The trade ports actually need to wait a little while into the game, until you can research trade (I forget what its called) on the civic research screen.

Oh and when you start, you will also need a frigate factory. Build a few frigates if you want, to help clear worlds. Ignore ice worlds for now. When you get some credits coming in (from extractors and trade ports) research the Kodiak heavy cruiser. Build them. After you get more credits keep researching and upgrading in the military tech screen. You should research and build Pecheron Light Carriers. Wait awhile to build tactical structures, don't build them in the early game. The next ship type to research is the Hoshiko robotic ships (and their upgrade to their right, eventually).

All this will probably help you win. You might turn pirates off or make them inactive and play against the easy ai for a few games. When you get good against the easy ai then try normal ai etc. Also you should lock teams.

Have fun.