The US television series Shark Tank premiered in 2009.
ABC launched the American adaptation in that year, bringing entrepreneurs before a panel of investors known as Sharks. The premise follows the same basic structure as Dragons' Den: business owners present their companies or products, answer detailed questions and negotiate possible investment.
The programme belongs to an international television format whose Japanese source was Money Tigers. Different territories have used different names, panels and production details, but the central pitch-and-negotiate structure remains recognisable. The American title was chosen to give the format a distinct identity for its domestic audience.
The premiere date is sometimes confused with the launch dates of other adaptations. The UK Dragons' Den began in 2005, while the American Shark Tank series followed four years later. That difference helps establish the timeline between the two well-known English-language versions.