The original Japanese television format adapted into Britain's Dragon's Den was called Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese programme that established the pitch-and-investment structure later used by Dragon's Den. Entrepreneurs presented business proposals to wealthy investors, seeking financial backing in exchange for a share of their company or another negotiated arrangement.
The format was subsequently adapted internationally. In the United Kingdom, the investors became known as Dragons, while other countries used different animal imagery and titles. This explains why the British programme resembles Shark Tank even though the British and American series have different names and panel histories.
The Japanese origin is sometimes overlooked because Dragon's Den is strongly associated with British television. The format's international success rests on a simple dramatic premise: a founder must defend a valuation and business plan while investors decide whether the opportunity is worth their money.