Robert Hamwee
About Robert Hamwee
Robert Hamwee spent about three decades in private equity and institutional finance. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1992 with a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting. He worked at The Blackstone Group from 1992 to 1994, in the Restructuring and Merchant Banking departments. He then worked at Greenwich Street Capital Partners, the predecessor to GSC, from 1994 to 1999. PE Hub reports that he later became GSC's president and chairman of its specialty finance affiliate.
He joined New Mountain Capital in 2008 and served as a Managing Director there. He was CEO of New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC) from its inception until the end of 2022. New Mountain's site now lists him as Senior Advisor and Vice Chairman, Director of Credit. Over his career he has chaired creditor committees and served as a lead director on corporate boards, including Purina Mills, Envirosource and Viasystems.
In 2026 he launched Authors First in New York as founder and CEO. He describes himself as a lifelong fan of historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, and says he started the company so authors keep creative control when their books are adapted for the screen.
His one documented AI round is Authors First. The company announced a seed round of more than $10 million in October 2026. Brand Foundry and Hamwee himself led the round, according to C21Media and Traded. Participants included Bolt Ventures (the family office of David Blitzer), Andy Mills, Mike Duggal and John Kline.
Authors First combines AI generation tools with other production technology, such as Blender, to adapt books into screen projects. Authors take part in the process, from character design and scripting to storyboarding and virtual cinematography. Its first project is an adaptation of Conn Iggulden's Genghis: Birth of an Empire. Hamwee is the company's CEO and an investor in this round. This is not a case of an outside angel writing a check into someone else's company.
Hamwee's public investing history is in private equity and credit, not early-stage angel investing. No public statements on angel check size, target stage or sectors were found. His one AI-related investment is a seed round in a company he founded and runs, in AI-assisted film and television production. Founders should not assume he takes inbound pitches as an angel.
- Authors First: AI-enabled book-to-screen studio and distribution platform in New York. Hamwee founded it, is CEO, and co-led its seed round of more than $10M, announced October 2026.
- newmountaincapital.com/team/robert-hamwee
- insidertrades.com/new-mountain-finance-co-stock/robert-hamwee
- pehub.com/rob-hamwee-joins-new-mountain-capital
- c21media.net/news/ai-enabled-book-to-screen-studio-and-distribution-pl
- variety.com/2026/biz/news/ai-studio-authors-first-10-million-writers-a
- traded.co/vc/deal/authors-first-raises-10-million-in-seed-funding-led-
- authorsfirst.com/leadership
- lowenstein.com/news-insights/firm-news/lowenstein-advises-authors-firs
Investing activity
Robert Hamwee appears in 1 AI deal tracked by the Lounge deals desk. The rounds are mostly Seed, with a median round size of $10M. The most recent is Authors First (Seed, $10M, Oct 2026).
Robert Hamwee most often invests alongside Mike Duggal, Brand Foundry, Andy Mills and David Blitzer, and the companies they back on Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Robert Hamwee
Is Robert Hamwee an active angel investor in AI startups?
No public record of other AI angel investments was found. His documented AI investment is the Authors First seed round, where he is founder, CEO and co-lead investor. His wider career is in private equity and credit.
What AI company did Robert Hamwee found?
He founded Authors First, a New York book-to-screen studio and distribution platform that uses AI tools alongside other production technology. It launched in October 2026 with more than $10M in seed funding.
What is Robert Hamwee's check size?
Not public. No source found states a check size for his investments.
What is Robert Hamwee's background before AI?
He worked at Blackstone and Greenwich Street Capital Partners, then joined New Mountain Capital in 2008. He was CEO of New Mountain Finance Corporation from its inception until the end of 2022.
Who else invested in the Authors First seed round?
The round was led by Brand Foundry and Hamwee. Participants included Bolt Ventures (the family office of David Blitzer), Andy Mills, Mike Duggal and John Kline.
Is Robert Hamwee an angel investor?
Yes. Robert Hamwee invests personally as an angel.
What AI companies has Robert Hamwee invested in?
Robert Hamwee's AI investments include Authors First. The 1 round on Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
What stage does Robert Hamwee invest at?
In the rounds tracked on Lounge, Robert Hamwee has invested at Seed, with a median round of $10M.
Who does Robert Hamwee co-invest with?
Robert Hamwee's most frequent co-investors on Lounge are Mike Duggal (1 deal), Brand Foundry (1 deal), Andy Mills (1 deal), David Blitzer (1 deal) and John Kline (1 deal).
How can founders reach Robert Hamwee?
Founders on Lounge can see Robert Hamwee's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with them under Warm Paths, and add Robert Hamwee to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.