The wealthy investors who hear pitches on the BBC programme Dragon's Den are called Dragons.
The title comes from the idea that entrepreneurs enter a room to face powerful business figures who may decide whether to invest. A founder normally presents a company, explains the amount of money requested and offers a percentage of ownership. The Dragons then question the founder before making, rejecting or negotiating an offer.
The word is a branding term for the British format rather than a legal job title. The investors are entrepreneurs and businesspeople, and their personal backgrounds vary widely. Some are associated with retail, others with technology, manufacturing, fashion or consumer products.
International viewers may know the related American adaptation Shark Tank, where the investors are called Sharks. That is why “sharks” can seem plausible, but it is not the term used by the BBC programme. The British show consistently uses “Dragons” in its title and presentation.