Dragon's Den is based on the Japanese business-pitch programme Money Tigers.
Money Tigers, known in Japan as Manē no Tora, established the core format in which entrepreneurs present proposals to wealthy investors and seek money in exchange for part of their businesses. The concept was later adapted for broadcasters in several countries, including the United Kingdom.
The British title uses “Dragons” for the investors, while the US adaptation is called Shark Tank. These programmes share the same broad premise but have different panels, production histories and national versions. Shark Tank is therefore a related adaptation, not the Japanese source programme.
The word “tiger” in the original title refers to the investors' forceful business personalities rather than to an animal-themed pitch rule. The UK series premiered in 2005, after the Japanese format had already established the central entrepreneur-versus-investor structure.