The UK series Dragon's Den was based on the Japanese business-investment programme Money Tigers.
Money Tigers was a Japanese reality television format in which entrepreneurs pitched business ideas to wealthy investors. The concept became the foundation for the international Dragons' Den franchise, with local versions adapting the title, investors and production style for different audiences.
The UK edition retained the central structure: a business founder presents an idea, answers questions about sales and finances, and negotiates over investment and equity. The British programme uses the word “dragons” for its investors, while related versions in some countries use “sharks” instead.
That difference creates a frequent source of confusion. Shark Tank is the American adaptation of the same broad format, but it is not the Japanese programme that directly supplied the original concept. Money Tigers is the specific title associated with the format's Japanese origin.