Startups are hiring all of the time, they're just harder to find because they're always a company you've never heard of, and their job descriptions are sometimes a little more niche than they need to be.

In terms of implementing a vision without political power, the best impacts I've had have always come from forming a consensus with all of the different stakeholders at my level in the company before trying to move the idea up the ladder.

Of the ideas are good they will probably benefit multiple departments. If your leader isn't receptive to new ideas, working with other departments to get their leaders fired up about the idea may be a way to move forward.