In 2015, together with three other partners, he founded Captive Escape Room, which has now become one of the most appreciated escape room venues in Romania. He is also a partner at Breakout Escape Rooms and Gateway VR Studio. In his spare time, he sings with the band Alex & The Fat Penguins and records voice-overs for commercials. He has a golden retriever named Freddie and believes that in life you should do what you love if you want to be happy. His name is Mihai Ungureanu and, at 40 years old, he declares that he has already lived as much as others in three lifetimes. Today, we talk with him about business, decisions, challenges, and what is happening in the escape room market.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence to spark the curiosity of those who don’t know you yet?
Mihai Ungureanu: As they were coming out one by one from one of Captive’s escape rooms, a few clients who had just escaped from our hardest room asked the game master who designs the rooms, who creates them. The game master pointed at me, giving me undeserved credit, since out of the four partners, I was the only one there, sitting in a corner, doing something on my laptop. At that moment, the team began to applaud me. Somewhat shocked and not knowing how to react, I stood up and bowed to them. That’s when I realized we had managed to build more than just games—we had created real experiences and that, more than entrepreneurs, we were a bunch of guys who had taken play and gaming to another level. It’s not a single sentence, but I found the story and its meaning relevant.

C&B: If we were to look at the narrative arc of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?
Mihai Ungureanu: I would say that the beginning of the business was among the moments that marked me the most. To make my answer more relevant and to explain why it had such an impact, I’ll give some context. At the time, I was working as a voice-over and MC, I was involved in a few music projects, and I was also doing audio production for commercials. So, I had a rather relaxed schedule and plenty of free time. In addition, most of the projects I was part of were collaborations, so I didn’t really have a team or colleagues. Captive Escape Room fundamentally changed that entire context and, along with it, my life. Suddenly, I had a daily schedule, clear responsibilities, and a team to collaborate with for everything to work. Obviously, I transformed. Then, naturally, other defining moments followed: from positive client feedback, which confirmed we were on the right track, to investments in expansion and, most importantly, the pandemic, which brought major challenges.

C&B: What were the initial challenges in bringing to market a relatively new concept at that time?
Mihai Ungureanu: The first and most important challenge was making the concept known. We knew we had gold in our hands—it was obvious from the clients’ feedback—but we were facing great reluctance from those who had never tried an escape room experience. Back then, we were trying to explain to friends, acquaintances, or even curious potential clients what such an experience was about, and it wasn’t easy at all. It’s the kind of activity that has to be lived to be fully understood. Communication and marketing were the toughest parts. In addition, there was also the challenge of earning people’s trust, since it wasn’t yet a proven concept in Romania at that time.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, no matter the obstacles?
Mihai Ungureanu: I’ve always been guided by the idea of doing what I love. I strongly believe that if you don’t find pleasure in what you do, there’s a big chance you’ll end up unhappy. I’m not saying every day is perfect and challenge-free, but the overall satisfaction you get when working on something you’re passionate about makes up for the tougher moments.

C&B: What did you look like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed since then?
Mihai Ungureanu: On the outside, pretty much the same, but deeply changed on the inside. As I mentioned earlier, Captive Escape Room changed my perspective on work, responsibility, and success. At the beginning, I was a pretty laid-back guy, going from project to project without too many worries. Today I am much more grounded in reality, more responsible, but also more aware of the importance of balance between work and personal life.

C&B: If we met with your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Mihai Ungureanu: I think they would say I’m an open, smiling guy and a good communicator. I also like to believe they trust me or feel safe knowing I’m in charge of something. They would probably also say that I can be a perfectionist at times and that I insist on doing things “by the book.”

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Mihai Ungureanu: The most important decision I made was to move music into the hobby category, rather than treating it as a career. I felt that, despite my huge passion for music, I didn’t have the consistency and discipline necessary to build a solid career in this field. By letting go of the pressure to make it a job, I freed myself and was able to enjoy it in a different, healthier way.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style or your way of making decisions? Was it a natural process or learned?
Mihai Ungureanu: I think it was both. I was gifted with an ease in communicating with people around me, which has helped me a lot in life. But at the same time, I learned a lot from the experiences I had, from mistakes, from what I observed in other leaders. I pay attention to people and try to adapt to each situation.

C&B: What sets Captive Escape Room apart from other escape rooms in Romania?
Mihai Ungureanu: I’d say that from the very beginning Captive stood out through its business vision. While most escape room venues, in the early days of the industry, had between one and, rarely, three game rooms, we planned from the start to have five. That helped us make a bigger impact and quickly attract public attention. On top of that, we put a lot of focus on original scenarios, high-quality set design, and the client’s experience. It wasn’t just about puzzles, but about creating an engaging and memorable story.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what moments of the day bring you the most satisfaction?
Mihai Ungureanu: Lately, since we’ve also become partners in the Gateway VR Studio business, I have to split my time between three locations, which can be quite tiring considering the distances and traffic in Bucharest. My day usually starts with checking messages and reservations, then continues with trips between locations, meetings, technical and administrative checks. What makes me happiest is seeing clients coming out excited from the rooms or receiving positive feedback. That confirms that all our work makes sense.

C&B: How has the Romanian audience changed in terms of appetite for interactive experiences like escape rooms?
Mihai Ungureanu: Obviously, the interest is much higher now than it was a few years ago. First of all, nowadays it has become a very popular concept. In the beginning, as I said, people were reluctant or didn’t quite understand what it was about. Today, escape rooms are a go-to option for team buildings, birthdays, or outings with friends. The audience has also become more demanding, which forces us to constantly keep up with their expectations.

C&B: How did you discover the escape room concept and what inspired you to launch Captive Escape Room in Romania?
Mihai Ungureanu: I discovered it through friends who were planning to open an escape room venue themselves. I went to play at their place and I was instantly hooked. I found it to be an incredible experience and immediately realized it had huge potential in Romania. The idea of stepping into a story, solving puzzles, and collaborating with your team to escape seemed extraordinary to me. That’s how Captive Escape Room was born.

Mihai Ungureanu’s story is one of passion, courage, and the ability to turn play into unforgettable experiences.

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