The British television programme Dragons' Den calls its panel of business investors the Dragons.
The name is part of the programme’s title and reflects the intimidating role the investors play during pitches. Entrepreneurs must present their companies, answer questions and persuade one or more Dragons that the proposed investment offers an attractive opportunity.
Other national versions of the format use different animal imagery. The United States edition is widely associated with sharks, while other adaptations have used animals such as lions. Those labels belong to local versions and should not be substituted for the British programme’s terminology.
The Dragons are not a fixed group. The BBC has changed the panel over time, allowing different investors to bring experience from retail, technology, fashion, finance and other industries to the negotiations.