The British show Dragon's Den was inspired by the Japanese programme Money Tigers.
Money Tigers established the central format in which entrepreneurs present business ideas to wealthy investors and negotiate for funding. The concept was later adapted in several countries, with each version using its own title and panel of investors.
The British adaptation retained the basic structure but developed its own vocabulary and personality. Its investors became known as dragons, while entrepreneurs typically had to explain their business model, valuation, sales and funding requirements under intense questioning.
Shark Tank is a separate title used by the American adaptation of the same broad international format. The Apprentice is a different reality programme focused on employment and business tasks, not direct investment pitches. Money Tigers is the specific Japanese predecessor associated with Dragon's Den.