The UK television programme Dragons' Den is based on the Japanese format Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese television programme in which entrepreneurs sought investment from successful businesspeople. The British production adapted that premise for the BBC, replacing the Japanese panel and cultural setting with British investors and businesses. The central negotiation structure, however, remained familiar: entrepreneurs ask for a specific sum in exchange for a stated share of their company.
The British title uses “Dragons” as a metaphor for powerful investors, while the Japanese title uses “tigers.” This is why the programme’s name differs across countries even when the underlying format is related. The concept later inspired numerous local versions around the world.
Dragons' Den is also connected to the broader international franchise that includes Shark Tank in the United States. Those programmes share the entrepreneurial pitch-and-investment premise, but their titles, panels, broadcasters, and production histories are not identical.