Sabin Prunău: The Visionary Changing Romanian Sports through Innovation and Social Impact

Discover the story of Sabin Prunău, founder of New York Crew, a Romanian social entrepreneur advocating for the liberalization of sports and building a sustainable ecosystem for a healthier, more active society.

Sabin Prunău is a Romanian social entrepreneur who has been coordinating the New York Crew ecosystem since 2014—a group of initiatives with the mission to strengthen the outdoor sports industry in Romania. His goal is to build a healthier, more conscious, and more active society. He has served as an advisor to the Minister of Youth and Sports and has worked for organizations such as Red Bull (Austria) and iRewind (Switzerland).

C&B: How would you describe yourself in one sentence to spark the curiosity of those who don’t know you yet?
Sabin Prunău: I’m the guy who advocates for the liberalization of Romanian sports, bringing business and sports to the same table—for prosperity, sustainability, and a more active population.

C&B: If we look at the narrative of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?
Sabin Prunău: 2014, when I founded New York Crew, was a pivotal moment for my entrepreneurial experience—a journey through which I still discover many unknown sides of entrepreneurship and sports. Another key moment was returning to Romania in 2020, when I reclassified the country’s shortcomings from problems into opportunities. That was when a world of possibilities simply opened up in front of me.

C&B: What was the most difficult moment in your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?
Sabin Prunău: One year after returning to Romania and a year into the pandemic, things didn’t seem to be going in the direction I had imagined: New York Crew wasn’t evolving as I had planned, the sports industry didn’t receive the post-pandemic boost I had anticipated (it came later), and I fell into a sort of latency. But I switched into hustle mode and immersed myself in reading, taking courses, attending sports, mountain, and business events. Focusing on work and the “job-to-be-done” was the key to success.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?
Sabin Prunău: I think it has always been about following your passion, doing what you truly love, building on a foundation that can answer the question “why am I doing this?” when things go wrong. I’ve always had the ambition not to do things I dislike, not to push more than necessary. Everything we’re doing today was born from a passion for mass sports, innovation, reinvention, and solving problems.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning of the journey, and how do you feel you’ve changed since then?
Sabin Prunău: I’m a pretty perfectionist person who approaches any issue mathematically and structurally. That’s always been my way, and I don’t think it’ll change soon. But I’ve worked a lot in recent years to stop waiting for perfection—the perfect moment, product, team, or strategy. This shift in perspective helped me overcome the fear of delegating tasks, of them not being done “perfectly” or exactly as I imagined. And many times, things turned out even better than I expected.

C&B: If we met your team or collaborators, what do you think they’d say about you?
Sabin Prunău: My longtime colleagues would say I’m demanding, that I value serious, committed, intentional people—those who don’t settle for superficiality. Newer collaborators might say I’m always “extra,” that I overdo things, that I trust people to deliver what they commit to—but also that I’m decisive and, once I make a decision, it’s final.

C&B: What’s the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Sabin Prunău: The most important decision was changing New York Crew’s trajectory. It wasn’t a consequence—it was a conscious, intentional decision in 2023. Today we have a team that takes ownership of the ventures and departments they lead, a team where people step forward, communicate directly with external stakeholders, and take responsibility for outcomes and credit.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style or decision-making process? Was it natural or learned?
Sabin Prunău: It’s interesting—growing up, I saw myself as a born leader. But in recent years, most of the courses I’ve taken were on leadership. Perhaps the best learning experience, though, is when I mentor entrepreneurial teams in incubation or acceleration programs.

C&B: What sets your business or professional approach apart from others in the industry?
Sabin Prunău: What sets us apart in the Romanian market is our mindset—one inspired by countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, or Austria. A completely different way of seeing things: highly structured, strategic, and focused on building functional ecosystems.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you, and which moments bring you the most satisfaction?
Sabin Prunău: Few days in my calendar look alike. Evenings are usually for sports activities or meetings with current or potential collaborators or friends.

C&B: What values or principles guide your work, and how do you apply them daily?
Sabin Prunău:
– I believe in the power of social impact, civic engagement, and democratic responsibility.
– I use innovation for the common good.
– I respect nature and believe in sustainability.
– I stay authentic and act with integrity.
– I’m always learning and growing.

C&B: How did you come up with the idea for this business and its name?
Sabin Prunău: New York Crew evolved from a local initiative group in 2008 into what it is today—a conglomerate addressing sports challenges from multiple angles. The name comes from our early inspiration from urban sports culture, where New York was the epicenter.

C&B: If you were to send a message to those who follow your example, what would it be?
Sabin Prunău: There’s no such thing as perfection—and that’s okay! No matter how much effort we put in, outcomes will vary. Follow your passion and—most importantly—don’t forget to enjoy the ride of entrepreneurship!

Sabin Prunău is not just an entrepreneur, but a catalyst for change in a field that needs vision, courage, and civic involvement. His story shows that the profound transformation of an industry can begin with passion and perseverance, and that the future of Romanian sports can be shaped by leaders who believe in education, innovation, and community.