Backed
Venture capitalLondon · Pre-Seed–Series A · 15 people tracked
Also known as Backed Encore · Haes Ventures Llp
Investment thesis
Backed positions itself as a human-centric European seed fund aiming to do venture differently. It backs bold, brave founders building generation-defining companies in frontier technology. The firm leads and invests early, writing average tickets of $500K to $5M, and operates a current fund of $100M. It emphasizes community and events, hosting thousands of attendees, and supports companies across a broad range of frontier and deep technology areas.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 15 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 23 of 93 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×13Biotech ×7SaaS ×7Enterprise Software ×5Deep Tech ×4Crypto & Web3 ×3FoodTech ×3Gaming ×3
HQs:United Kingdom×10United States×8Spain×1
Investments · 93 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 32023 · 12021 · 22019 · 12017 · 18 dated
Acidity-targeting therapeutics for solid tumours.
Tolland, US
Board seatAlex Brunicki· per SEC Form D
Invisible builds AI systems embedded into enterprise operations and workflows, focusing on integrating AI infrastructure into existing business processes rather than deploying standalone software solutions.
AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSan Francisco, US
Ricardo Pedraza(Executive Officer)Kamron J Palizban(Executive Officer)Marshall Sutherland(Executive Officer)Francis Pedraza(Executive Officer, Director)inNicholas Paul Brysiewicz(Director)
Board seatAndre de Haes· per SEC Form D
Developing RNA medicines to treat, delay, and prevent brain diseases.
Afrocenchix creates vegan, cruelty-free hair care products designed specifically for Afro, tightly coiled, and curly hair.
ConsumerDirect to Consumer
New York, US
Jory Schwach(Executive Officer, Director)Geet Bhatt(Director)Greg Fell(Director)
BoardGhaith Alghamdi(Director)Thomas G. Miglis(Director)Odd Harald Hauge(Director)
Automated investment solutions for blockchain, gaming, and the metaverse.
HR TechLondon, GB
Kalamazoo, US
Franci Zidar(Chief Executive Officer)Ziga Vrtacic(Director)Kyle Buzzard(Director)Tom Vodopivec(Chief Operating Officer)Michael Dietz(Chief Technology Officer)Benjamin Kumalic(Vice President of Growth)
Live-streamed and archived underground music performances.
Technology-driven immigration and sponsorship solutions.
Helps CFOs optimise financial performance via forecasting and cloud cost automation.
AI-powered, non-invasive neurotechnology for brain healthcare.
AI-driven combination therapies for brain disorders.
Building and sharing interactive data reports with Python.
AI-powered personalized dermatology and skincare.
Streamlines procurement and sales with logistics and software expertise.
Standard for building collaborative, local-first decentralised software.
Strategic investments in sustainable industrial transformation.
Enzyme-mimetic therapies for neuroprotection and longevity.
Claymont, US
Grant Aarons(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Ferdinando Randisi(Director)Robert Kniaz(Director)
BoardSiraj Khaliq(Director)
Autonomous semiconductor wafer fab optimisation.
Garten provides healthy food, meditation, mindfulness and community wellness services for workplace environments.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFoodTechFuture of WorkWellness & FitnessSan Francisco, US
Michael Heinrich(Founder/CEO)in
Seamless, smart, and social e-commerce checkout experience.
GingerControl provides an automated post-entry review tool for customs compliance, re-evaluating the classification and valuation of every import entry rather than relying on sampling.
AI & Machine LearningLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Mobile games for global audiences.
Data marketplace platform provider.
Hoxton Farms grows cultivated fat, a biomanufactured ingredient for food companies to use in plant-based and alternative meat products.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechFoodTechLondon, GB
Vítor Espírito Santo(Chief Scientific Officer)in
Immutable provides an AI growth platform for video game publishers to convert anonymous traffic into identified players, predict player value, and automate engagement campaigns across email and multiple channels to drive revenue from launch through lifetime value.
AI & Machine LearningGamingMarketing Tech
James Ferguson(Founder)
Next-generation crypto wallet bringing DeFi to the world.
BiotechLondon
Harrison Rickerby(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJames Field(Executive Officer, Director)
Player-driven web3 gaming experiences.
San Francisco, US
Aron Beierschmitt(Director)
Invests in decentralised finance and blockchain innovation.
Intelligent, automated financial reporting insights.
Decentralising drug development through blockchain-powered collaboration.
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesSky Mavis · thenextweb.com · Apr 15, 2026
Olix · trysignalbase.com · Feb 11, 2026
Amenitiz · eu-startups.com · Nov 11, 2025
Hoxton Farms · greenqueen.com.hk · Nov 3, 2025
Invisible Technologies · bloomberg.com · Oct 10, 2025
Ochre Bio · endpoints.news · Oct 1, 2025
Principals & officers · per Companies House
what is this? ⓘLLP designated member · since 2015
Andre Charles De Haes — significant influence or control limited liability partnership
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Backed invest at?
- Backed invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Backed's typical check size?
- Backed typically writes checks of $500K – $5M.
- What sectors does Backed focus on?
- Backed focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Consumer, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, EdTech, Energy, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Healthtech, Media & Entertainment, Retail Tech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Backed located?
- Backed is headquartered in London, GB.
- Does Backed lead rounds?
- Yes, Backed leads investment rounds.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamAndre de Haes: Co-Founder and Partner at Backed VC announcing their new $100m fund!
Scaling-Europe · Andre de Haes
Andre de Haes, Backed VC: Redefining VC Edge & Embracing Authenticity
EUVC · Andre de Haes
008 Exploring Network Effects Of On-Chain Game Engines | Future of Gaming 2023
BACKED
009 The future of Gaming is Human | Future of Gaming 2023
BACKED
014 All-Star Gaming Investor Panel | Future of Gaming 2023
BACKED
010 What is Web3 Good For in Gaming | Future of Gaming 2023
BACKED
Co-investors · 46
Entrepreneur First (EF) is a talent investor that helps individuals build and launch startups, providing support such as US visa guidance, office space, fundraising preparation, and investor introductions culminating in a San Francisco Demo Day.
LocalGlobe is part of a multi-generational Phoenix Court platform that backs companies from pre-seed through public markets, founded by the Klein family who are considered founders of European seed investing with multi-decade relationships across the European tech ecosystem. The fund operates from a physical founder village at Phoenix Court in London and focuses on backing unconventional entrepreneurs in specific geographic neighbourhoods, having been among the earliest institutional backers of European outliers like Wise, Zoopla, and Citymapper.
Hoxton Ventures is a European venture capital firm with a Silicon Valley mindset that invests early in founders building companies in new, non-obvious market categories, encouraging them to tackle the US market early.
Hummingbird Ventures is a global venture capital firm that partners with outlier founders across all stages, from inception to IPO.
Molten Ventures is a European venture capital firm that backs technology founders from Series A onward, providing capital along with operational expertise, networks, and partnership to help companies scale globally.
Playfair Capital is a venture capital firm investing exclusively at pre-seed stage in the UK and Europe from its £57m Fund 3.
Andreessen Horowitz's Strategic Partnerships page describes collaborations that connect its portfolio companies with established institutions to help scale and deploy their technology.
General Catalyst is a venture capital and investment firm that backs founders across industries, with a strong focus on AI-driven transformation, fintech, healthcare, and other sectors.
Foundation Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in companies at their earliest, most formative stages, with a strong belief in the transformative power of design.
FundersClub is an online venture capital firm run by startup founders and VCs based in Silicon Valley, providing portfolio companies with software tools and a global network to support their growth.
Acequia Capital is an early-stage investment platform supporting technical founders and product teams building global technology businesses.
Kindred Capital is a London-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage founders, describing itself as investing in pioneers shaping the future.
▶34 more co-investors
Eight Roads VenturesChampion Hill VenturesKfundSamaipataCraft VenturesFirst Round CapitalPlug and Play VenturesPioneerAccel-KKRPoint NineLatitud VenturesNotion CapitalAnthemis VentureCisco InvestmentsShrug CapitalSarona VenturesBasementSeed Club VenturesPioneer Square LabsBoost VCRTP GlobalAdjacent Ventures LlcMassMutual VenturesJigsaw VCLife BiosciencesSyngenta Group VenturesBasecamp FundSilicon BadiaThayer VenturesFactionbacktrace capitalWave CapitalGrupo DKVhenQ vc
Firms observed investing alongside Backed, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Backed's recorded portfolio.
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