Imperial Megacorporations (Patreon)

The Solar Empire has several notable Imperial megacorporations, so called both because most were founded or nationalized by the Empire, but also because the Imperial family owns a significant portion of the company or outright controls it, through shares or directorship. Traditionally, whomever sits on the Stardust Throne is the leader of the company as a figurehead, and the Emperor or Empress picks a significant portion of the board.

Non exhaustive list of Imperial Megacorporations :

Starflight :

The original, Starflight was created by the Solar Triumvirate to mass produce the newly discovered Stardrive and its associated jump capable ships, and was never privatized, simply transfering over to the Empire as is and massively expanded under the reign of Emperor Maximilian Antilles. While it has lost some of its lustre and power over the centuries, it still remains the single most important Imperial megacorporation and one of its greatest exporters. Starflight mostly specializes in civilian vessels, but also produces a significant number of warships, having absorbed other corporations specializing in such over the centuries.

Gatetech :

A relative newcomer, Gatetech invented the interstellar jump gates, and was promptly nationalized by the Empire as a matter of national security. The natural rival to Starflight, Gatetech is renowned for its military affiliations and private forces, as each gate has to be guarded given its price and value as a chokepoint for customs checks. The company is also famed for being a massive income stream for the Empire's (and the Imperial family's) coffers.

Nirvani :

Nirvani Incorporated is what could politely be called a megacarrier corporation. Originally built to carry high value technological goods from the Inner Core to the still recovering Core Worlds, it has since become a quasi monopoly on large cargo shipping throughout the Core, using gigantic gate haulers and jump freighters to link worlds and carry the masses of cargo required to keep the empire's economy running. They are also a common sight on the major trade lanes, and are generally left alone by pirates thanks to their ample use of mercenaries. Ample use in fact that has given them excellent relations with the Ilkyan Lordships, to whom they are a well respected, reliable client and one of the few commercial partners allowed past the trading borderworlds of the lordships.

Olanor :

Specializing in materials refining and acquisition within the Core, Olanor builds mining equipment and buys raw materials en masse to refine for the Core Worlds. They have mining equipment for any budget, and are renowned for their reliability, if one follows the maintenance schedule and buys replacement parts from them of course.

Arcadia Systems :

Originally a magitech computer conglomerate specialized in reviving AIs, was eventually bought out and taken over by one of its revivals, and rebranded after that AI's previous corporation under the Federation. It produces most of the Empire's AI, and fabricates many of the electronics and sensors aboard ships, becoming a lynchpin of the Empire's missiles and EWAR programs, leading to the company being nationalized by the Empire, though Arcadia remains its leader and a significant shareholder.

Viridia :

An agricultural corporation founded by the Imperial government, originally built to help reclaim and sometimes reterraform worlds, its primary objective was to get food production back on its feet and enable Imperial worlds to grow again. The corporation has never showed great benefits, and in fact had only registered losses for most of its history, but the rise of plant harvesting for mana refining in the last few centuries have finally pushed it in the green.

Arcana Occultae :

A mix between a pan-system university and corporation, Occultae finances many magical academies and universities throughout the galaxy, using them to guarantee a steady stream of mages and enchanters for its actual moneymaker, enchanting and material transmutation. Occultae is effectively a giant assembly of subcontractors for other corporations, handling the upper levels of enchantments and transmutation magics.

Azure :

Handles mana extraction and refining, Azure fuels modern civilization, and was a private company nationalized on Earth before the Solar Triumvirate ever came to be. Expands aggressively across many worlds, as mana is universally needed, and is one of the most present Imperial megacorp outside of the Empire's borders, though usually through subsidiaries.

Stella :

Originally a traveller's aid society, it has gradually evolved into a financial institution. Stella isn't truly a bank so much as it is a network of them, sharing information through the stars. As such Stella is a mix of a secure courier service and a financial transaction network. It was nationalized in 181 by Empress Gyrix when the Empire began the establishment of the Imperial Courier Service (ICS), using Stella's network as a template. The backing of the Empire has only extended Stella's reach, including the authorization to use naval couriers for certain missions and dispatches. It is widely accepted that buried in the banking data, there are also covert communications for the Empire's various illicit operations.