In this episode,
David Cruz e Silva sits down with
Andre de Haes, founder of
Backed VC, live from SuperVenture 2025 in Berlin.
Backed is one of Europe’s boldest early-stage funds, known not just for investing in frontier tech but for pioneering a new model of VC community. In this conversation, Andre unpacks the philosophical and practical foundations of their work—from turning a value-add into a moat to why “edge” in venture is mostly a myth—unless you build your own rules.
Who should listen:
- Emerging managers figuring out how to build true differentiation
- LPs trying to evaluate durable edge in a saturated VC market
- Founders deciding what kind of capital partner they want long-term
Here what’s covered:
- 00:00 Who is Andre de Haes & What is Backed VC?
- 00:32 Frontier Tech Focus: Fintech, Bio, and Manufacturing Software
- 01:30 Why Community is a Core Offering—Not a Side Show
- 02:15 Behind the Scenes: The SuperVenture Speaker Dinner & Rooftop Surprise
- 04:00 Playing the Long Game: Trust Built Over 20-Year Cycles
- 05:08 Stage Preview: What it Means to Build VC Edge
- 07:50 Advice for LPs on Identifying Real Differentiation
- 10:50 Biggest Learnings: Humility, Leverage & Contrarian Courage
- 15:00 Investing at the Frontier: Computational Bio, Optics & Non-Invasive Brain Tech
- 16:00 What Munger & Buffett Teach Us About Capital Efficiency in VC
