The British Dragon's Den format is based on the Japanese business-pitching programme Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese television programme in which entrepreneurs presented business proposals to wealthy potential investors. Its format was adapted for other countries, including the United Kingdom, where the investors became known as Dragons. The British programme retained the central negotiation structure: founders explain their proposal, state the investment sought and offer a percentage of their company.
The show belongs to a wider international franchise rather than being an entirely original British invention. Different versions use different names and investor terminology. In the United States, the related adaptation is Shark Tank, while other countries have used titles referring to lions, tigers or dragons.
Money Tigers is sometimes confused with the international title Dragons' Den itself. Money Tigers is the Japanese source programme; Dragon's Den is the British adaptation and brand. The apostrophe and singular/plural forms in programme titles also vary between territories.