The BBC business-investment show Dragons' Den was inspired by the Japanese television format Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was created in Japan as a programme in which entrepreneurs presented business proposals to wealthy investors. The investors questioned the founders, examined the commercial prospects and decided whether to offer funding. Dragons' Den adapted that central pitch-and-negotiation structure for British television.
The Japanese format became the source for several international versions. The best-known American adaptation is Shark Tank, while programmes using the Dragons' Den name have appeared in countries including Canada, Australia and Ireland. The names and panel arrangements vary, but the basic idea remains the same: entrepreneurs seek investment by presenting directly to experienced business people.
A common mix-up is to assume that Dragons' Den originated in Britain because the BBC version became widely known. In fact, the programme belongs to a broader international format family whose starting point was Japan.