Authors First has raised more than $10 million in a Seed funding round led by Brand Foundry and company founder Robert Hamwee. Bolt Ventures, the family office of David Blitzer, along with Andy Mills, Mike Duggal and John Kline, also participated in the financing.
Founded in 2025 and based in New York, Authors First is a book-to-screen studio and distribution platform led by founder and CEO Robert Hamwee. The company works directly with authors to adapt books into episodic screen productions, combining human creative teams with generative AI and other production technologies. Authors retain creative control and final-cut approval over their adaptations.
The studio came out of stealth alongside the funding announcement. Its first adaptation is Genghis: Birth of an Empire, based on Conn Iggulden’s work, with Iggulden retaining final-cut approval. Authors First has also listed projects involving works by Peter F. Hamilton, David Ball and R.A. Salvatore.
