Yes this is why many recommend you join an established corp, build yourself up, then form your own later.
For example, I have mk100+ WHGs etc. that, along with similarly large cargo/diamonds that can get my ships across the map in under an hour rather than 7. Raph probably can do so in seconds lol.
It's very, very slow to get over that 'hump' without the advantage of such corporate resources. But even then, if you can get players to join you and they stay active you could share research/manufacturing capabilities etc. and do just fine with some teamwork.
Still it will take time though. I've been playing for about a year now, won the lottery my first month, and was given leadership of the corp early this year. It's taken us this long to get where we are.