Panaji, Aug 11 (IANS): Agraj Agranayak and Milind Prabhu are 20-something techies based in Goa keen to set up their own IT service oriented businesses. Enter the state trade forum which will mentor such young entrepreneurs in a professional environment.

The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (GCCI) specially conceived IT innovation centres aim at promoting budding talents with ready actionable business plans as part of their new innovation in the form of a business information technology incubator (BITI).

GCCI president Manguirish Pai Raikar said BITI is a first of a kind experiment.

"At an extremely reasonable rate, we offer mentoring, a fully-equipped office space, loan assistance and even expertise on matters relating to marketing, government regulations and taxation," Raikar told IANS.

"Our first BITI batch has 40 vacancies. We have already selected some candidates who presented their business plans to us. Young Goan entrepreneurs are the need of the hour," he added.

Milind is working on a new social networking platform with two partners, has investors lined up and was looking for a business space and guidance. For him BITI is just what he needed.

"I'm very much confident that I will have the right guidance in this industry. Exposure to IT industrialists and other fellow businessmen will definitely help us make this project a success as far as its marketing is concerned," Milind said.

Agraj, who operates a start-up firm named Imagine Works in Margao, 30 km from here, said the BITI concept is promising for youngsters like him.

"It will be a good opportunity to communicate, share ideas and build a network of like-minded people. Moreover, the experienced management mentors from whom we can seek assistance will really help," he said.