UPFRONT STAKE is a term used in business to refer to an initial investment made by a company or individual in order to secure a certain outcome. The term is often used in the context of a venture capital investment, where a company or individual puts money into a project in exchange for a share of the profits. The term 'ante' is a four-letter word that is used to describe this type of investment. It is derived from the Latin word 'ante, ' which means 'BEFORE.'