Shark Tank is the title of the American adaptation of the entrepreneur format behind BBC's Dragon's Den.
ABC premiered Shark Tank in the United States in 2009, using a panel of investors who hear business pitches and may offer capital for equity. The programme descends from the same Japanese format that inspired Dragon's Den.
Although the titles differ, both shows rely on valuation questions, competing offers and negotiations in front of cameras. The American programme calls its investors “sharks,” while the British version calls them “dragons.”
Shark Tank should not be mistaken for the original source programme: Japan's Money Tigers came first, and Britain's Dragon's Den launched before the US series. The adaptation names reflect local branding rather than a different business principle.