The original Japanese television format on which BBC’s Dragon’s Den was based was Money Tigers. The Japanese programme established the central format in which entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors and negotiate for funding.
The British version began broadcasting in 2005 and adapted the idea for a UK audience. Entrepreneurs usually explain their product, business model and funding request before the investors question them about sales, valuation, costs and ownership. Each investor can then make an offer, decline or leave the negotiation.
The format is often confused with the American series Shark Tank, which uses a similar investment-pitch structure. Shark Tank is a separate adaptation of the same broad concept rather than the direct Japanese title behind the BBC programme.
The name “dragons” reflects the programme’s British branding, while the investors’ role is essentially that of potential business partners. The format’s appeal comes from combining entrepreneurship with live negotiation and public valuation debates.