The phrase "early stages" refers to the beginning or starting point of something. It is used to describe the initial phase or period of development, progress, or growth. Full definition
There are three warning signs you should be aware of in early stages of relationships, which might indicate your partner is high conflict. (myintimcity.com)
Additionally, many cryptocurrency projects are still in early stages of development. (finma.ch)
We've got some work but we need to find more, so we're definitely at early stages of development. (sciencemag.org)