| Neha Kirpal | |
| Birth Place: | New Delhi, India |
| Known For: | Founding India Art Fair, Co-founding Amaha Health |
| Alma Mater: | Lady Shri Ram College University of the Arts London |
| Occupation: | Social entrepreneur |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Awards: | Nari Shakti Puraskar by Government of India (2015), Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum (2015) |
Neha Kirpal is an Indian social entrepreneur based in India. She is known for her work at the intersection of arts and mental health. She founded the India Art Fair in 2008,[1] which she later sold to MCH Group. She is the co-founder of Amaha, a mental health organization.
She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India's highest civilian honour for women, by the Government of India.
Neha Kirpal was born in New Delhi, India, where she spent her childhood. She attended Sardar Patel Vidyalaya for her school education[2] and later studied Political science at Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi. She was actively involved with SPIC MACAY during her school and university years.[3]
After graduating, she gained experience in events, public relations, and marketing before pursuing a master's degree in marketing at the University of the Arts London.[4] [5]
Neha Kirpal founded the India Art Fair (formerly India Art Summit) in 2008. The fair is known for its focus on contemporary art and has garnered international acclaim.[6] [7] She was credited with reviving the art market in India.[8]
In August 2017, she resigned from her position as the fair director of India Art Fair, while continuing as the founder and co-owner, retaining a 10% stake in the company.[9] After successfully running the India Art Fair for a decade, she sold her art business to Switzerland based MCH Group.[10] [11]
She served on the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry's (FICCI) National Advisory Committee for Art.[12]
In 2019, Neha Kirpal shifted her focus to mental health and joined Amaha Health (formerly InnerHour) as co-founder with Amit Malik. Amaha Health is a mental health organization providing online and offline therapy, psychiatry, and counselling services across India.[13] [14] [15]
In March 2012, Neha Kirpal was included in India Todays list of 25 Power Women.[16] In 2014 and 2015, Fortune India listed her in its 40 Under 40 list.[17] [18] [19] In 2014, she received the Most Powerful Women Award from India Today.[20] Business Today magazine named her a "Most Powerful Woman in Business" for 2012,[21] 2013[22] and 2014.[23] In 2014, Neha was recognized as the Art Entrepreneur of the Year by Forbes at its Forbes India Art Awards.[24]
In 2015, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in recognition of her leadership and achievements. The award was presented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, and it was conferred upon her by India's president, Pranab Mukherjee on International Women's Day.[25] She was named a Young Global Leader from India by the World Economic Forum in 2015.[26]
She was awarded the 2015 Indian of the Year award by NDTV in 2016.[27] In 2017, Neha was included in Apollo magazine's "40 Under 40 Global".[28]
She is a fellow of Ananta Aspen Centre's Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship.[29] In 2018, she was selected as an Eisenhower Innovation Fellow.[30] CNBC TV18 felicitated her in February 2024 at the second season of 'Future Female Forward' for her work in promoting gender equality.[31]