How EPICC Founder Kamilah Mantle Turned a Passion for Care Into Innovation 

Kamilah Mantle’s, founder and CEO of Montgomery County-based EPICC Technologies, path into healthcare began early. Growing up, many of the women in her family worked in healthcare or supported individuals with disabilities, which exposed her to the impact that compassionate care can have on people’s lives. As a teenager, Mantle volunteered at a nursing home one summer and quickly realized she had found her calling. She discovered a natural connection with older adults and developed a deep interest in helping people improve their quality of life through rehabilitation. That experience ultimately led her to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Howard University in Washington, DC. After entering the field, Mantle began noticing that the materials available to help patients rebuild communication and cognitive skills were often limited, leaving clinicians without the resources they needed to fully support recovery.

Building EPICC Technologies

Seeing those challenges firsthand inspired Mantle to launch EPICC Technologies, a healthcare company focused on helping people regain speech, cognitive, and communication skills after conditions such as stroke or brain injury. “Our goal is simple,” explained Mantle. “We help people communicate, connect with others, and improve their quality of life.” The company, which was launched in 2022, provides speech, cognitive, and swallowing therapy along with clinical consulting services that help patients and healthcare providers navigate the recovery process. At the center of the company’s work is the EPICC® app, which offers guided speech and cognitive exercises that help patients stay motivated while practicing the communication skills they need in everyday life.

Today, the platform is used by clinicians and patients in hospitals and senior living facilities, helping support recovery both inside healthcare settings and at home. Through its technology and services, EPICC now supports thousands of individuals through clinicians, caregivers, and healthcare providers across the United States and internationally.

Rooted in Representation

Mantle’s clinical background continues to guide how she leads the company. Her focus remains on solving real problems for patients, clinicians, and caregivers while creating practical tools that improve care delivery.

Representation also plays an important role in the company’s mission. In the speech-language pathology profession, only about three percent of practitioners are Black. Mantle is committed to ensuring EPICC’s therapy materials and technology are culturally inclusive and accessible for patients from diverse backgrounds.

Choosing Montgomery County to Launch and Grow

Mantle’s connection to Montgomery County began early in her career. After graduate school, she lived in the County before later moving north to be closer to family and worked in healthcare and educational settings. When she decided to start her company, she chose to return to Montgomery County because of its strong entrepreneurial ecosystem and access to mentorship and business development resources.

Several local programs helped support Mantle’s transition from clinician to entrepreneur. She participated in a business incubator at the Universities at Shady Grove, where she was selected as a pitch competition finalist. She also completed the Amber Business Program through the Montgomery County Black Collective and later participated in the CEO Accelerator Retreat hosted by the Montgomery County Business Center. According to Mantle, these programs helped her build the business foundations needed to grow EPICC while connecting with a network of mentors and fellow entrepreneurs.

The Future of EPICC in Montgomery County

Looking ahead, Mantle sees strong opportunities to continue expanding both the company’s clinical services and its technology platform in Montgomery County. “Montgomery County has a strong healthcare and innovation ecosystem, and we see opportunities to partner with more hospitals and rehabilitation providers while increasing adoption of our technology across nursing homes and healthcare systems,” she said.

Mantle’s work has already received significant recognition. She was selected for the 2025 Healthcare Leadership Development Program through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and represented Maryland as one of 15 companies at the 2025 AdvaMed MedTech Conference. Most recently, she was named a 2026 Maryland Top 100 Women honoree and won first place in the 2026 pitch competition hosted by the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce.

As Mantle continues to grow EPICC Technologies, her work reflects the kind of mission-driven innovation that defines Montgomery County’s business community as a place where entrepreneurs are developing solutions that not only build successful companies, but also improve lives.