Dragon's Den adapted the Japanese television format Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese programme built around entrepreneurs seeking financial backing from successful businesspeople. The concept was later adapted for television markets around the world, with each country selecting its own investors and setting its own production style.
The British version retained the central pitch-room structure: entrepreneurs explain their businesses, state how much money they want and offer a percentage of their company. The Dragons then decide whether to make an offer, ask questions or leave the negotiation.
A common mix-up is to identify Shark Tank as the source of the format. Shark Tank is the US adaptation of the same broader format family, while Money Tigers was the Japanese original that preceded the British series.