The American adaptation of the Dragon's Den investment-pitch format is called Shark Tank.
Shark Tank uses the same broad premise: entrepreneurs present businesses to a panel of wealthy investors and seek funding in exchange for an ownership stake. The US programme developed its own title, branding, cast and production history rather than simply broadcasting the British series under a new name.
The terminology changes with the adaptation. British viewers know the investors as dragons, while the American programme calls its investors sharks. Both programmes use negotiation, valuation and equity offers as central dramatic elements, but the individual panel members and episode details differ.
Shark Tank premiered in the United States in 2009. It is part of a large international family of programmes derived from the Japanese business-pitch format Money Tigers. The relationship explains why viewers may recognise the structure while seeing different titles, presenters, investors and local business cultures.