The format of the British television show Dragon's Den was based on the Japanese business-pitch programme Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese reality television series in which entrepreneurs presented business proposals to wealthy investors. The investors decided whether to offer money in exchange for a stake in the entrepreneur’s company, creating the central negotiation structure later used by Dragon's Den.
The format was adapted internationally. The British version premiered on BBC Two in 2005 and became part of a global franchise. In the United States, the related adaptation is known as Shark Tank, while other countries use titles based on dragons or local investor terminology.
Money Tigers is therefore the source format, not an alternative name for the British programme. Dragon's Den retained the basic pitch, questioning and equity-negotiation structure while developing its own panel, editing style and British business setting.