The British programme Dragon's Den was adapted from the Japanese business format Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese television format built around entrepreneurs seeking funding from wealthy businesspeople. Its core idea was exported internationally, with local versions adapting the investors, entrepreneurs, language, and business culture while retaining the pitch-room structure.
The British version uses the word “Dragons” for its investors, reflecting the programme's title and its emphasis on powerful, intimidating backers. Contestants generally ask for a specific amount of money in return for a stated percentage of their company, although negotiations can produce different terms or no deal.
People sometimes mistake the format's origin for the country where the best-known English-language versions were made. The British programme is a local adaptation rather than the original creation. The same broad format has also inspired editions in several other countries, each with its own panel and investment outcomes.