Shark Tank is the title of the American adaptation of the television format that includes Dragons' Den.
The American series premiered on ABC in 2009 and uses the same broad premise: entrepreneurs present businesses to wealthy investors, seeking capital in return for an ownership stake. The investors are called Sharks rather than Dragons, reflecting the title used for the US version.
Dragons' Den is the British version, while Shark Tank became the best-known American expression of the format. The two programmes share a pitch-and-negotiation structure, but their panels, production histories, and local business cultures are different.
A televised offer should not be treated as proof that a deal ultimately closed. In both formats, business proposals can undergo further checks and negotiations after filming. The shows are therefore entertainment programmes built around real commercial decisions, rather than simple announcements of completed investments.