The Japanese programme that inspired BBC's Dragon's Den was Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese television format in which entrepreneurs presented business proposals to wealthy investors. The investors could question the presenters and offer funding in exchange for a share of the business. This pitch-and-negotiation structure became the foundation for several international versions.
The BBC's Dragon's Den is therefore part of a global format family rather than an entirely British invention. The United States version is known as Shark Tank, while many other countries use different local titles. A common mix-up is to treat Shark Tank as the original, but the format began in Japan before being adapted elsewhere.
The UK series retained the central visual idea of entrepreneurs entering a room to face a panel of powerful investors. Its name and branding changed for the British audience, while the basic investment mechanics remained recognizable.