Dragon's Den is based on the Japanese business programme Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese television format in which entrepreneurs presented business ideas to wealthy potential investors. The concept supplied the central structure later adapted for Dragon's Den: a founder makes a pitch, requests a specific investment and offers a percentage of the company.
The format travelled internationally under different titles. In Britain it became Dragon's Den, while the United States adaptation became Shark Tank. Although the names and panel identities differ between countries, the focus on valuation, equity and negotiation remains recognisable.
A common mix-up is to treat Shark Tank as the original programme. It is an American adaptation, not the Japanese source format. The British title also uses the word “Dragon” to describe its investors, while other versions use different animal metaphors. This international format family explains why similar pitch-room scenes appear in several countries.