Left to right: Prema Gurunathan, Upstream Nexus; Pinky Miles-Bahula, Malombo Music Association; Sean Rodrigo, The Fixatorium; Fiona O'Brien, Choose to Reuse; Simon Melbourne, Urban Flyers; Ruchika Kalra, Little Jukey; H&F Leader Stephen Cowan and Alyssa Gilbert, Undaunted and Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London
Three Hammersmith & Fulham organisations have secured £3,000 to bring sustainable solutions to the borough.
Simon Melbourne, Fiona O'Brien and Ruchika Kalra emerged victorious from a field of five local green entrepreneurs at a recent Dragon's Den-style competition in White City.
H&F's first Green Innovators pitch night took place at Scale Space on Thursday (9 October).
The three winners secured £1,500, £1,000 and £500 respectively to implement their ideas, along with workplace-support donations from H&F Climate Alliance members BBC StudioWorks, Shepherd's Bush Market and Huddle.
H&F Leader Stephen Cowan – one of the judges on the night – said:
These impressive Green Innovators proved that Hammersmith & Fulham is nurturing world-class talent. The night was a great example of what our Upstream London economic growth plan seeks to deliver.
So far, we've helped attract £1.1billion in green tech investment since 2017. We're ensuring every resident shares in this economic transformation."
The competition rallied partners from H&F's booming White City Innovation District.
Green tech and business experts joined H&F Leader Stephen Cowan on the judging panel, including Prema Gurunathan from Upstream Nexus and Alyssa Gilbert, Director of Innovation at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London and Undaunted, the UK's leading hub for the climate innovation community.
Meet the winners
Simon Melbourne, co-founder of Urban Flyers, won first place and with it, backing for his Bike Taxi Scheme.
Simon explained how electric pedal-assist trike rides for older adults and Disabled residents will reduce isolation, promote active travel, and provide pathways into green employment.
"This project is about rethinking how we move through our neighbourhoods," Simon said. "With solar power, local riders, and an inclusive model that works for families, elders, and everyone in between.
"The Green Innovators funding helps us turn our vision into a real lifeline. It will help older residents get out and about, supporting carers and families with school runs, and creating green jobs for young locals, one bike taxi at a time."
Former librarian turned H&F Climate Champion, Fiona O'Brien, secured funding to develop the idea of creating a local space where residents can donate, buy, repurpose and upcycle unwanted or surplus materials.
Fiona is looking to host a 'Choose to Reuse' hub in the north of the borough and is currently scouting for a space.
"Repair and reuse are often viable and affordable options instead of throwing away," she explained. "I want to build a space for that where residents can gain know-how from experts and each other."
Together with partners, she plans to run workshops and repair cafes for textiles, electrical goods and sustainable living at the hub.
Ruchika Kalra impressed judges with Little Jukey – a sustainable toy kit brand for babies and toddlers.
Each toy kit uses FSC-approved materials that support sustainably forestry, including rubber wood, clean cotton and recycled materials. Families can sell back used toy kits for cashback, and every purchase plants a tree.
The H&F Green Innovators programme helped her connect with likeminded changemakers in the borough, explained Ruchika: "It helped shape Little Jukey's vision by linking us with people who share our goal of building a cleaner, more conscious future for families."
Other competitors included Pinky Miles-Bahula from Malombo Music Association, and Sean Rodrigo from The Fixatorium. Meet the 2025 Green Innovators cohort here.
Upstream London
The pitch night was the finale of a six-week programme that helped the shortlisted innovators develop their ideas into investment-ready solutions. Through in-person workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions, Start-Up Discovery School helped refine their business models and develop their pitches.
All five innovators are now part of the H&F Climate Alliance, where they'll receive continued support and access to H&F's growing network of climate conscious businesses.
The scheme forms part of H&F Council's wider economic transformation. Led by the council's economic growth plan, Upstream London, H&F has attracted more than £1.1billion in green tech investment since 2017 – more than Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol combined.
