Tech + Science

10 Things You Didn’t Know About… Monstercat co-founder and CEO Mike Darlington

Like, what animal he thinks he'd be (spoiler: it's not a cat)

By Nathan Caddell /

Credit: Brandon Artis

Like, what animal he thinks he’d be (spoiler: it’s not a cat)

In 2012, a year after founding electronic dance music label Monstercat at an accelerator centre in Waterloo, Mike Darlington and Ari Paunonen, who met at that city‘s eponymous university, headed to the mountains. 

It was a move that paid off for the duo and for the city of Vancouver, which has become a mecca for electronic dance music in Canada since Monstercat slunk into Railtown. 

Also important for the company, of course, is the genre‘s global popularity. Each month, Monstercat sees about 120 million streams of songs by its roster of 70-plus artists from more than 20 countries.

Darlington, who graduated from the University of Waterloo with a biology degree, oversees 45 employees in 10 departments, from Gaming and Events to Music and Apparel. Here are 10 things you (probably) didn‘t know about him. (And one extra, just for fun.)

What’s your favourite spot in B.C.?
Sitting over the bowl in Whistler Blackcomb on my snowboard.

Where did you go on your last vacation?
Maui, where I attempted to master kiteboarding!

What’s your most memorable podcast, film or book?
I grew up reading books written by David Gemmell; all of them are amazing.

Favourite restaurant/bar?
Bistro Sakana in Yaletown! It is a must-visit spot in Vancouver for sushi lovers.

What is your morning routine?
Wake up; catch up on emails; gym; steam; shower; smoothie; walk to office!

Hobby?
Video games (Teamfight Tactics are my go-to type of games), biking, walking.

What is your favourite quote?
“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.“ —Walt Disney

Best advice ever received?
You‘ll make it further in business by being a real human, treating people with respect and making fair deals.

Your worst job ever?
I‘ve appreciated all the jobs I‘ve had; they‘ve built me into who I am today.

If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
Bottlenose dolphin, an intelligent and aware creature that has the freedom to cruise through the open waters.

Anything else we should know but forgot to ask?
I‘ll be hosting all the friends/Monstercat family on August 24 in Vancouver for our free Monstercat Compound event. It‘s a great place to ask me any other questions in person, or any of our awesome staff!