The British Dragon's Den format was adapted from a Japanese television show.
The format originated with Nippon TV's Money Tigers, known in Japan as Manē no tora. Entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors and negotiate for financial backing, an idea later exported to broadcasters around the world.
The British version began in 2005 and uses the same central structure: entrepreneurs enter the den, make a pitch, answer questions and seek investment from the panel. The British programme became one of the best-known versions of the international franchise.
A common mix-up is confusing the format's country of origin with the country where the best-known English-language versions are produced. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and several other countries all have their own adaptations, but Japan created the original format.