The American adaptation Shark Tank first premiered in 2009, after the British programme Dragon's Den had already become established.
Shark Tank debuted on ABC in the United States. Like Dragon's Den, it features entrepreneurs pitching businesses to a panel of wealthy investors in exchange for capital and an equity stake. The American programme uses “sharks” instead of “Dragons” for its investors.
The two shows share the same broad format, but they are not the same national production. Dragon's Den began in Japan as Money Tigers and was adapted for the BBC in Britain in 2005. Shark Tank is the US version of the wider format and developed its own panel, presentation style and business culture.
The premiere year is useful for separating the programmes' histories: the British series started in 2005, while Shark Tank followed in 2009. Both subsequently became internationally recognised television brands.