nascent
adj.starting to develop or exist. You use this to describe something that is in its very early stages but shows potential for the future.
adj.just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential. Often describes abstract concepts like industries, movements, or technologies in their earliest developmental phase.
“The nascent space industry is growing very quickly.”
“Investors are pouring capital into the nascent green hydrogen market, hoping to lead the transition to renewable energy.”
“The historian argued that the nascent democratic movement was ultimately crushed by the sudden return of military rule and strict censorship.”
Typically used attributively before a noun; often paired with abstract nouns like 'industry', 'talent', or 'democracy'.
“Lawson’s job mostly involved traveling as a consultant for Fairchild customers, but in his spare time he became a hobbyist in the nascent video game development scene.”
“They may be the nascent, swaddled phase that marks the beginning of almost every supermassive black hole’s journey,” he said.”
Borrowed from Latin nāscēns, nāscentis, present participle of nāscor (“I am born”). Doublet of naissant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.