Ciprian Pintea, Founder of Winarrow: “I Wanted to Climb as High as Possible and Leave Something Behind”

Discover the entrepreneurial journey of Ciprian Pintea, founder of Winarrow: lessons in leadership, personal transformation, and business innovation.

Ciprian Ionuț Pintea, founder of Winarrow, is a serial entrepreneur and investor, a graduate of the Faculty of Automation and Computer Science at the Politehnica University of Bucharest, who has worked exclusively in his own businesses.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence to make those who don’t know you curious?
Ciprian Pintea: At 20, I was driven to achieve rapid and significant success; I sought out successful mentors, learned from them, and quickly achieved very good results, guided by the mantra: “Laser Beam Focus.”

C&B: If we were to follow a narrative thread of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?
Ciprian Pintea: The firm decision to educate myself on the mindset of successful people and the determination to learn intensely, acting with strong leverage to generate major impact.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment in your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?
Ciprian Pintea: The toughest moment in business was when all partners were financially successful, but a very strong team imploded because everyone wanted to start their own business. We shifted from a joint venture structure to a classic one with a CEO and achieved new milestones thanks to an aggressive action strategy and fast execution. I sought to work with the best professionals available, which made a crucial difference.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, no matter the obstacles?
Ciprian Pintea: I always wanted to exceed my limits and climb as high as possible. For a long time, I believed that intense effort, like in the gym, was the key to success. Later, I focused on having a positive impact on those I influence. I’m still trying to find a balance between all forces and motivations at every level. It’s a major challenge to find a balance that brings harmony in life, not just business success.

C&B: How did you look at the beginning of your journey and how do you feel you’ve transformed up to this point?
Ciprian Pintea: At the beginning, I was “hungry” and full of passion. Now I’m more confident, far less naïve, more skilled at dealing with people and identifying opportunities. I’d do many things very differently today, not just in business – and that shows how much I’ve changed.

C&B: If we were to meet your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Ciprian Pintea: From what I’ve heard, many appreciate the time they worked with me because they learned a lot. Many are now successful, some at very high levels. I was away from the country for a long time, and those who came to the office were probably glad I was gone. I wanted to push things to the max and was probably like a strict “professor.” At the time, some criticized me, but later they appreciated it because my standards helped them grow.

C&B: What’s the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Ciprian Pintea: The most important decision was to start as early as possible and to learn intensively, so I could grow at an accelerated pace.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style or the way you make decisions? Was it a natural process or something learned?
Ciprian Pintea: I learned from books and mentors. For any experienced person, it’s usually a combination of theory and practice. Leadership is primarily about vision. Without a clear direction, it’s hard to lead. Many executive decisions are more about management than leadership. High-performance management is rare.

C&B: What do you think sets your business or your professional approach apart from the rest of the industry?
Ciprian Pintea: I tried to innovate quickly and maintain high speed. I trusted that if we gave our best, we could win.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what parts of the day bring you the most satisfaction?
Ciprian Pintea: I am now retired due to health reasons. During the period of intense activity, I worked a lot and constantly pushed myself out of my comfort zone. A principle I often applied was “Work hard, play hard.”

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them daily?
Ciprian Pintea: I keep learning. I’m now in a recovery phase. I believe there is life after death, and I want to act as well as possible, considering both this life and what comes after.

C&B: How did you come up with the idea to start this business, and how did you choose its name?
Ciprian Pintea: I created businesses based on demand, focusing on emerging and growing industries. I focused on online ventures due to my technical background. The name was chosen to reflect the competitive spirit and focus on success.

C&B: If you were to share one message with those who follow your example, what would it be?
Ciprian Pintea: The better you know yourself and understand your motivations, the shorter your path to your goals will be. Introspection and asking “why” are essential to understanding causality and how the world – and you – truly work.

Ciprian Pintea’s story is about ambition, transformation, and a constant desire to learn and make an impact. A true model of authentic leadership and vision in Romanian entrepreneurship.