How Luba Patlakh-Kaplun Built a Pediatric Therapy Empire from Scratch Using Facebook Groups

Apr 23

Listen to the episode here: 👉 https://youtu.be/VW9ofwfx3do?feature=shared

How do you turn a single-person speech therapy practice into a multi-location pediatric powerhouse serving thousands of families—and become a self-made millionaire along the way? In this episode, I sit down with Luba Patlakh-Kaplun, founder and CEO of Kidology Inc., to unpack her journey from speech-language pathologist to entrepreneur. We chat about everything from grassroots marketing to Facebook group growth hacks, from navigating gatekeeping systems to showing up unapologetically as a mom building something major.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or scaling your business to new heights, Luba’s story is packed with real talk, practical tips, and a whole lot of inspiration for anyone carving their own path in business—especially mom entrepreneurs doing it all.

Inside This Episode, We Discuss:

How Luba turned rejection into redirection during her early licensing battles
What it really looked like to build her business without outside investment
Her favorite grassroots marketing moves—including exactly how she used Facebook groups to grow
How she won contracts with local government offices (and got the mayor involved!)
The underrated power of relationship-building in scaling a service-based business
Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship without losing momentum
Tips for mompreneurs who are in their early hustle era

About Luba Patlakh Kaplun:

Luba is the founder and CEO of Kidology Inc., a thriving pediatric therapy practice based in Philadelphia that serves children from birth to 21 across multiple locations. A bilingual entrepreneur and speech-language pathologist by training, Luba is also a mom of three and a self-made millionaire, recognized multiple times by Philadelphia 100 for her business growth. She’s passionate about community partnerships, inclusivity, and inspiring other moms to chase big business dreams.

Luba’s Story:

After switching from a career in broadcast journalism to speech-language pathology, Luba worked her way through the early intervention system in Philadelphia, eventually realizing she could build a business of her own. With no outside funding and tons of early rejections, she relentlessly pursued contracts with local counties, used social media to connect directly with families, and built up a team of multilingual providers to serve diverse communities. Now, she runs two thriving clinics, a sensory play gym, and even a speech therapy bus—all while raising three kids and staying deeply connected to her local community.

Lessons for Entrepreneurs:

If you can’t go through the door, knock on the window—and keep knocking.
Facebook groups are still a goldmine for connection, visibility, and grassroots growth.
A walking billboard mindset (and a branded t-shirt) can take you far when you’re just getting started.
The emotional side of entrepreneurship will always be there—but don’t let it stop your momentum.
Build relationships early and often. People buy from people they know, like, and trust.

Guest Links & Resources:

Connect with Luba:

Instagram: @lubalove

LinkedIn: Luba Patlakh Kaplun

Website: kidologyinc.com

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