BBC's Dragon's Den was inspired by the Japanese business-pitch show Money Tigers.
Money Tigers supplied the underlying format in which entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors and seek funding in return for equity. The Japanese concept was adapted for audiences in Britain, where the investors became known as Dragons and the programme developed its own presentation style, terminology, and personalities.
The British series is therefore not an entirely original format, although its panel, presenter, branding, and many memorable negotiations are specific to the BBC adaptation. The same underlying concept has travelled widely, producing versions in numerous countries under titles that often refer to dragons, sharks, or other powerful animals.
A common mix-up is to identify Shark Tank as the direct source of the British programme. Shark Tank is a separate American adaptation of the broader format. Money Tigers is the Japanese programme credited with originating the format later used by Dragon's Den and other international versions.