Washington: Two Indian-American students have created an incubator for startup businesses to help budding entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground for free, a media report said.

Westview High students Aman Sharma and Bhavin Gupta have already helped three startups through their Oregon Business Incubator, which helps connect companies with industry experts and arrange interns with knowledge the startups may need, The Oregonian reported on Saturday.

"We operate at completely no cost because charging startups is counter-productive to our mission statement," Gupta was quoted as saying.

"Furthermore, we hope to be an inspiration for younger students who want to pursue a career in business and entrepreneurship."

They may not have a vast knowledge of how to run a business, but they are intelligent and motivated and have done extensive research on the subject, the daily said.

The duo anticipate skepticism because of their young age. "We totally expect that," Sharma said.

They have kept their goal simple. They hope within a year to have startups calling them instead of the other way around.

The Indian-origin students are on their school's debate team and Gupta plans to join Sharma on the school business club soon.

With inputs from IANS