The original television format behind Dragons' Den originated in Japan.
The Japanese programme Money Tigers, or Money no Tora, supplied the basic concept later adapted as Dragons' Den. Entrepreneurs sought funding from wealthy businesspeople by presenting proposals and answering questions about their companies, finances and plans.
The format then travelled internationally. Britain adopted the dragon branding, while the United States used Shark Tank and other territories developed their own local titles and investor panels. These adaptations retain the central tension of a founder negotiating with people who can provide both money and business experience.
The country of origin is sometimes mistaken for Britain because the BBC version became especially influential in English-speaking audiences. Britain created its own successful adaptation, but Japan created the original television format.