Money Tigers was the Japanese business show that inspired the UK version of Dragon’s Den.
The format originated in Japan, where Money Tigers gave entrepreneurs the opportunity to seek investment from a panel of financially successful businesspeople. Contestants typically presented their ideas, answered detailed questions and negotiated over a possible equity deal.
The format was later adapted in several countries. In the United Kingdom, the BBC produced Dragon’s Den, while the United States developed Shark Tank. Although the programmes share the basic pitch-and-investment structure, each national version has its own panel, editing style and business culture.
A common mix-up is to identify Shark Tank as the source of Dragon’s Den. Shark Tank is a later American adaptation of the same broad format, not the Japanese original that directly inspired the British programme.