Oof. This post started so good and then got progressively more sad until the edit nailed it home. I hope your story continues and works out as a huge win, either as a new, good boss, you getting to openly lead this kind of thing, someone reading this and poaching/sponsoring you, or maybe even you working on this under your own name.
It was not intentional but my post really does read like a little story vignette that ends with a gut punch.
Not looking for sympathy so much as fellow appreciators of irony and schadenfreude but here's another kicker.
I pitched this idea to my previous company and was told there was no appetite for it. Just saw on my old company's blog that they released a "digital transformation in a box" program for mid-market clients in this space which is 90% of what I pitched to them. Bad and hilarious timing all around.
This is EXACTLY what pushed me over the line to quit my last job. Had a big pitch for a spin off I wanted to run, was told not only no appetite for it but is a stupid idea in a dying industry. Literally 2 weeks later it was in the board deck as something the company is going up build.
Good luck and we're rooting for you!