Money Tigers was the Japanese TV format adapted into the British series Dragons' Den.
The format was created in Japan and became the source for several national versions. Entrepreneurs appear before wealthy businesspeople and request funding, normally offering an ownership stake in return. The British adaptation retained this basic structure while creating its own panel, visual identity and terminology.
Money Tigers is the English translation commonly used for the Japanese title, “Manē no Tora.” The format was first broadcast in Japan in 2001. Its premise was later adapted in countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Ireland.
The British programme is sometimes described as the inspiration for the American series Shark Tank, but the underlying format belongs to the wider Dragons' Den franchise. The Japanese origin is therefore a useful distinction when identifying where the concept began.