About the Solution Playground: This is about impacting the individuals and communities credit unions serve

If you've come to this page expecting a story of an entrepreneur who has launched countless companies and raised millions of dollars in funding, you've come to the wrong place. Ooooopsy!

WHO We Are

People First, Always.

At our core, we believe the real stars are the communities and individuals credit unions serve. The true heroes of this story? You—the credit unions and solution partners who create tools that help everyday people build better financial lives.

Without you and our shared purpose of service, the Playground simply wouldn't exist.

WHY We're Here

Connecting Greatness in Complex Times.

Since credit unions first appeared in the U.S. in 1909, our world has transformed dramatically—and credit unions have evolved right alongside it. Today's landscape demands strong partnerships to fulfill the credit union mission of service.

When credit unions collaborate with innovative solution providers—from cutting-edge technology firms to specialized consultants—they become an unstoppable force for financial well-being.

However, the current methods of finding great matches feels broken.

Credit unions often only see a limited set of solutions with large marketing budgets or investments, but want to know "what else is out there"
Very few credit union professionals like being pitched, yet companies continue to invest in traditional sales channels and processes
Solutions are said to be "vetted" or "preferred/recommended partners," but credit unions do not have a one-size fits all evaluation standard

The Playground exists to spark these powerful connections, helping credit unions and solution providers find each other, build meaningful partnerships, and create lasting impact. And yes, we believe we can have plenty of fun along the way!

HOW We Work

Our Playground Rules

Trust and Transparency
We believe integrity isn't optional. Everyone in our ecosystem commits to honest interactions with aligned motivations—helping credit union members always comes first. This mission is bigger than any one of us, and we act accordingly every day.
Accessibility for All
Credit unions deserve the best partners and genuine choice. Size, customer count, funding rounds, or marketing budgets shouldn't determine visibility. Our platform ensures credit unions can discover all available options and efficiently find their perfect match—which looks different for every institution.

We maintain a balanced, sustainable business model that:
- Creates accessibility for all qualified solution types
- Keeps our operation running smoothly
- Gives back to strengthen the entire ecosystem
Have Fun with Purpose
Our playground name isn't accidental! We believe financial services can shed its stuffy image and embrace joy. After all, we're providing tools that help people build better lives—shouldn't that work feel uplifting? We're committed to bringing smiles to both the people we serve and to ourselves along the journey.
Embrace Collaboration and Healthy Competition
We've built this playground as a space where solution providers can showcase their unique strengths while credit unions find exactly what they need. By fostering a collaborative spirit, we create an environment where everyone contributes to the greater good of the credit union movement. But, fair competition, in the form of everyone pushing each other to "do better," is also needed to avoid stagnation. Credit unions deserve the best.
Continuous Learning and Improvement
Like any good playground, we're always evolving. We actively seek feedback, implement improvements, and stay adaptable to the changing needs of our community. Every swing, slide, and climbing structure gets better with your input!

Come and play!

This is a small, but mighty operation!

Right now, the Solution Playground is just me, Adam Lee. I am grateful for your support to help make this collaboration space possible.

Adam Lee

Founder & CEO

Gatsby Lee

COO and CFO

Adam Lee, swiss army knife of getting sh*t done

DJ Bring the Action

Chief Do-Er

My Story

Here is how I fell in love with the credit union movement.

I'm fortunate to have stumbled into the credit union movement, like so many of us have.

I got my start at TruStage as a project manager.
My passion for the movement accelerated when I served as Incubator Director for Filene Research Institute testing and scaling programs for underserved communities.
After Filene, I had amazing opportunities to work with talented people again at TruStage and then at NACUSO, deepening my love for all things credit unions.
Prior to all this, I served in two AmeriCorps programs: AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps and City Year.
I am also grateful for my time as a Federal Strategy & Operations consultant with Deloitte. I picked up so many tools working with passionate and brilliant people.

I am all in on serving communities and I have found a home to do this within the credit union movement. It's purpose and mission are bigger than anyone of us.

This Solution Playground is about you, and I am honored to be in your space, helping credit unions kick butt.

Serious Solutions. Enjoyable Discovery.

This is what drives everything we do at Solution Playground.