Compared to Advent and Vasari, TEC ironically have the worst early game econ (as in the first 30-45 minutes). I know they're supposed to be the economist race, but TEC lack what Advent and Vasari have: an early game economy bonus.

What do I mean by that? Well, in an online match the pace of the game is so fast that it's rare for the game to go 30 minutes without you and an opponent butting heads. Advent and Vasari can manage both an economy and a fleet early because they have some sort of economic bonus that they can lean on.

Yes Advent are vulnerable until they have Illums out, but their mothership makes planet upgrades so much cheaper. Lvl 1 20% off, LvL 2 40% off, LvL 3 60% off. That may not seem like much, but what it allows Advent to do is spend much less on the logistics upgrades for planets. Getting to LvL 2 makes the planet produce credits, but since Advent are on discount they can buy the third LvL upgrade and actually turn the planet into a huge credit generator. It's a great technique because it requires so little maintenance to make this credit source. 

While Advent get planet upgrades cheap, Vasari get neutral mines. Their scouts can find neutral mines all over the map early and get Vasari absolutely ridiculous income in minerals which can be sold for credits.

TEC, however, have to make their income. They have to make tradeports to have a comparable income, but the tradeports are so expensive that by the time those ports are up, the enemy is sending a fleet in and destorying them.

Beware going the economy route with TEC. You are very vulnerable.