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

Game Scoop Episode 526