Money Tigers is the Japanese title of the format that inspired BBC's Dragon's Den.
The format originated in Japan as Money Tigers, known there as Money no Tora. Entrepreneurs presented business ideas to wealthy investors and sought funding in exchange for a stake in their companies. The central idea was then adapted for television audiences in other countries.
The British programme is one international version of that format. Its use of “Dragons” reflects the British title, while other adaptations use different investor imagery and names. The United States version, for example, became Shark Tank rather than retaining the Dragon terminology.
Money Tigers is sometimes confused with the name of the British programme or with a generic description of the investors. It is specifically the Japanese source format, making it the most precise answer to the question about the show’s inspiration.