Definition of grubstakes:
(n) :
(mining) Money, materials, tools, food etc. provided to a prospector in return for a share in future profits.
(n) :
(business) An amount of money advanced to someone starting a business in return for a share of the future profits.
(n) :
Money, necessities stockpiled to sustain an effort for a period of time.
(v) :
(transitive) To supply such funds to.