About
Hey, I’m Marko Danial — but most people online know me as Pharaoic.
It started as a nickname, but over time it’s come to represent the work I’ve been building across different spaces. From engineering and tech to social media and brand strategy, it reflects my journey of figuring things out, staying curious, and creating along the way.
My Journey
My path started in 2015 when I launched an Instagram page called Spzrts just for fun. I was still in high school and wanted to learn more about sports, storytelling, and the online world. I had no idea that a simple page would eventually grow to over 500,000 followers, evolve into a full brand, and teach me the fundamentals of content, community, and e-commerce.
That experience sparked something in me. I realized I loved building things, not just products, but platforms. I taught myself how to edit content, understand engagement metrics, and connect with audiences, all from my phone. It made me realize that creativity and strategy can go hand in hand.
Around the same time, I started experimenting with other theme and niche pages — from comedy and meme accounts to more sports pages, a car page, and even one focused on sneakers and streetwear. I quickly got the hang of running social media pages across different niches, and I enjoyed figuring out what made each audience tick. Many of those pages gained thousands of followers, and it helped me understand the dynamics of digital growth and engagement early on.
In 2017, I launched a YouTube channel under the name Pharaoic, where I shared vlogs, pranks, and random videos with friends. It was my first time creating content around myself, and it became the beginning of building my personal brand. A little later, I even released an EP with a friend just for fun — another way to explore storytelling and creativity in a new format.
In 2020, during the pandemic, I started Techineer, a tech-focused Instagram page that took off quickly. It became a space to share engineering, innovation, and creative ideas with millions of people. Today, Techineer has over 2.5 million followers and continues to be one of the most engaging STEM platforms on social media.
At the same time, I was studying mechanical engineering. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC, along with a minor in entrepreneurship. I chose engineering because I’ve always loved figuring out how things work, and I’ve stuck with it because I enjoy solving problems, building systems, and applying creativity in technical ways.
Now, I run Pharaoic LLC, a media and consulting company focused on digital growth, storytelling, and strategy. Alongside that, I’m also working as a mechanical engineer, continuing to explore how I can bring both my creative and technical sides together in meaningful ways.
What I Stand For
This is the mindset I try to bring into everything I do, whether it’s engineering or creating online. These are the things that help me stay focused on what matters and keep learning along the way.
Keep It Real
I’ve never been about fake hype. Whether it’s building something or growing online, I care more about being honest and staying consistent than trying to look perfect.
Be Curious
Most of what I’ve figured out came from trying things myself. I like learning by doing and staying open to whatever’s next.
Build things that matter
From content to engineering projects, I want the things I work on to actually have value–even if they’re small, they should feel purposeful.
Collaborate with Purpose
Collaboration has been a big part of everything I’ve done. I like working with people who are genuine, creative, and driven.
The Path So Far
I experimented with vlogs and skits, building my personal brand and learning video storytelling.
Techineer passed one million followers and became one of the most recognized STEM communities on Instagram. It marked a major turning point where content creation started evolving into a real career path.
I earned my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship, and will complete my M.S. later in December. USC helped me connect engineering with creativity and shaped how I approach building things.