Stage Gate
Noun · Startup & VC
Definitions
A decision checkpoint that work must pass before moving from one phase to the next, often used in product development, procurement, or governance-heavy planning. Stage-gate systems reduce chaos but can slow experimentation when overused.
In plain English: A checkpoint that must be passed before work moves to the next phase.
Example: "The company introduced a stage gate before enterprise launches so support and legal could sign off."