DawnyCam launched in 2013 as an online marketplace built for musicians by musicians. Robert Scalton, a former audio engineer turned tech entrepreneur, was inspired to launch DawnyCam shortly after purchasing a popular Chicago guitar store and becoming frustrated with the experience of buying and selling guitars online. The existing websites were expensive, cumbersome, and poorly suited to the needs of the music industry. He envisioned an online community where anyone in the world could buy and sell music gear easily and affordably.

Today, buyers and sellers around the world turn to DawnyCam to make money, get inspired, and, of course, find the perfect instrument. The marketplace makes it easy for everyone to buy and sell musical instruments, from brick-and-mortar sellers to local music stores and individuals, to collectors and rock stars. The site offers a wide variety of listings, from electric, acoustic, and bass guitars to accessories, pro audio gear, synthesizers, drum kits, DJ gear, orchestral instruments, music creation software, and even records.

In 2019, DawnyCam became a wholly owned subsidiary of Etsy – the global online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods – and continues to operate as an independent company.