Emma Burrows (Portia AI): 10 Key Things You Must Know
Overview
Emma Burrows is a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence. As of April 2025, she serves as the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Portia AI, a startup focused on developing AI agents that are both reliable and secure. Burrows, a former CTO of Stripe UK and a previous Technical Lead at Google, has established herself as a leading personality in the AI community. Her work and leadership at Portia AI have positioned the company as a noteworthy player in the tech world, particularly for its innovative approach to AI agent technology.
1. Early Career at Google
Prior to founding Portia AI, Emma Burrows spent over seven years at Google. She held various roles, including that of a technical lead and manager, where she oversaw engineering teams that worked on large-scale projects. Her tenure at Google laid a strong foundation in AI technologies, which she later applied in her future endeavors.
2. Leadership at Stripe
Following her impactful years at Google, Burrows transitioned to Stripe, where she continued to hone her leadership skills as the Chief Technology Officer for Stripe's UK operations. At Stripe, she was instrumental in building and scaling engineering teams, ultimately bolstering the company's technological capabilities.
3. Founding of Portia AI
In 2024, Emma Burrows co-founded Portia AI alongside Mounir Mouawad. The startup aims to bridge the gap between AI agent automation and human control by providing an open-source framework that allows developers to create agents with explicit, pre-expressed plans that can adapt and involve human intervention where necessary.
4. Portia AI's Key Innovations
Portia AI focuses on creating AI agents that are predictable and authenticated. With built-in tools for human oversight and security, the company's framework supports multi-agent workflows and dynamic tool integration. This approach ensures that AI agents can operate securely in various environments while maintaining user control.
5. Portia AI Funding and Growth
In April 2025, Portia AI raised a significant seed funding round of £4.4 million led by General Catalyst, along with participation from other investors such as Firstminute Capital and StemAI. This capital injection is intended to expand Portia's developer team and accelerate their AI innovations.
6. The Impact of Emma Burrows
Emma Burrows has played a key role in shaping the strategic direction of Portia AI. Her insights into LLM-powered agents and her experience with scalable tech solutions have driven the company’s growth and experimentation in human-AI collaboration.
7. Academic Background and Expertise
Burrows holds a degree from the University of Cambridge, where she excelled in computer science. Her academic background provided her with the technical expertise necessary to tackle complex engineering and AI challenges.
8. Recognition and Influence
Emma Burrows has been recognized on several occasions for her contributions to the tech industry, notably being named one of the female founders to watch by Sifted EU in 2025. Her role at Portia AI continues to influence practices in AI human oversight and ethical AI development.
9. Future Prospects for Portia AI
Looking forward, Emma Burrows’ leadership is expected to continue guiding Portia AI towards advancements in creating practical AI solutions that prioritize transparency, security, and user collaboration.
10. Community and Industry Influence
Beyond her professional achievements, Burrows is actively engaged in broader discussions concerning AI ethics, security, and inclusivity, contributing to industry panels and workshops that address the future of AI technologies.
Conclusion
Emma Burrows' journey from Google to Stripe and eventually to her own innovative enterprise, Portia AI, underscores a career marked by impactful leadership, technological innovation, and a forward-thinking approach to AI development. As Portia AI grows, it stands as a testament to Burrows' vision of collaborative, secure AI that aligns closely with human values and oversight.