In Dragons' Den, the investors who hear entrepreneurs' pitches are called Dragons.
The term is central to the programme's branding. Each entrepreneur enters the den and presents a business idea, product or company to a panel of wealthy investors. The investors question the presenter about sales, profit, valuation and the amount of equity being offered.
The word “Dragons” does not mean that the panel members are judges in a legal or competition sense. They are potential investors who may offer their own money in exchange for a stake in a business. A Dragon can also decline to invest, commonly described on the show as being “out.”
The name comes from the programme's intimidating premise: an entrepreneur must face powerful business figures in a high-pressure room. Other countries use related titles, but the investor panel is especially associated with the Dragons' Den brand.