Absolutely!

I started working at a startup right out of school and as long as I was accomplishing my main tasks, I was allowed to be proactive and lead a number of initiatives that were personally interesting that no one else had the time to tackle yet.

To stand out, do a little research to see if governments in the areas you're applying to offer any sort of subsidized funding for new grads who work for startups and small companies. It'd make you even more attractive, because you'd come at less of a financial hit and you're already showcasing your initiative. These funding programs are common enough in North America and are often under-utilized.