The investors on the British television programme Dragon's Den are commonly called dragons.
The nickname comes directly from the programme's title and describes the businesspeople who listen to pitches and may offer money in return for a stake in a company. Their role combines financial evaluation with negotiation: an investor can accept a proposal, reject it or make a different offer.
The word is part of the British format's identity, not a general name for every television investor. In the American adaptation Shark Tank, the panel members are called sharks instead. Other countries use different animal titles or retain the Dragon's Den name, depending on the local version.
The dragons are not judges in a competition with a single winner. Multiple investors can make offers, several can collaborate, or none may invest. The programme's tension comes from the entrepreneur trying to persuade one or more dragons that the business has both potential and a sensible valuation.