Money Tigers is the Japanese television format that inspired the British programme Dragons' Den.
The Japanese programme, known as Money Tigers, established the basic setup in which entrepreneurs seek funding from a panel of successful businesspeople. The format was subsequently adapted for other countries, with the investors receiving different animal-based names in some versions.
Britain used Dragons' Den, while the United States adaptation became Shark Tank. These programmes share the concept of pitching for investment, but they are separate national productions with different presenters, investors and business cultures. The Japanese origin is often overlooked because the British and American versions became especially prominent internationally.