Diamonds in the Rough: Investing Where Grit Meets Innovation

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with Joe Alalou, co-founder and managing director of Daring Ventures, to explore the firm’s unique investment thesis focused on scaling “human moats”—the critical interplay between human judgment and emerging AI technologies in B2B software.

Joe shares his inspiring, non-traditional journey from community college dropout to Columbia graduate and investment banker, highlighting how grit and resilience shape his approach to identifying promising founders often overlooked by traditional venture capital.

They discuss Daring Ventures’ focus on pre-seed investments across advisory, essential, and experiential sectors, emphasizing the importance of human friction as a feature, not a bug, especially in industries like hospitality and professional services. Joe explains how they nurture founders through hands-on support and a disciplined investment approach that prioritizes realistic paths to cash flow and sustainable business models.

The conversation also touches on geographic diversity in sourcing startups beyond traditional tech hubs, and the value of founder authenticity and humility. This episode offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in the evolving relationship between technology, human expertise, and venture capital.

Learn more about Joe's work at https://daringventures.vc/

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephalalou/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com