Shark Tank is the American television adaptation of the format used by the UK show Dragon's Den.
Both programmes feature entrepreneurs pitching businesses to wealthy investors. The investors question the founders about products, sales, valuations and ownership before deciding whether to make an offer.
Shark Tank premiered in the United States in 2009 and is based on the same wider format lineage as Dragon's Den. The American programme uses “sharks” for its investors, while the British version uses “dragons,” but the negotiation structure is closely related.
The title is easy to confuse with other American business programmes. The Apprentice focuses primarily on employment and corporate tasks, while The Profit centres on Marcus Lemonis advising struggling businesses. Shark Tank is the title specifically associated with the American adaptation of the pitch-and-investment format.