Shark Tank is the United States adaptation of the Dragon's Den television format.
In Shark Tank, entrepreneurs present businesses to a panel of wealthy investors and request capital in exchange for equity. The American programme uses “sharks” instead of “dragons,” but the central dramatic structure remains the same: founders defend their valuation, answer questions and negotiate under pressure.
The series premiered in the United States in 2009. Its panel has included entrepreneurs such as Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O'Leary, Daymond John and Lori Greiner, although the line-up varies by episode and season.
The two programmes are sometimes treated as separate inventions because their branding and panel personalities differ. They are better understood as national adaptations of an international format that originated with Japan's Money Tigers.