Shark Tank is the American television adaptation of the British programme Dragon's Den.
The American series uses the same broad premise: entrepreneurs pitch businesses to a panel of wealthy investors and seek money in exchange for equity. The investors are called “sharks” rather than “dragons,” giving the American programme its distinctive title and branding.
Shark Tank premiered in the United States in 2009. Mark Burnett developed the American version, and the series became one of the best-known business reality programmes on American television. Although the format is shared, the panel, presenters, broadcast network, deals, and episode history are specific to Shark Tank.
This identification should not be confused with the original Japanese programme Money Tigers, which inspired the wider format. Dragon's Den is the British title, Shark Tank is the American adaptation, and Money Tigers is the Japanese source programme. Each name belongs to a different national version or stage of the format’s history.