The Japanese television format adapted into the UK show Dragons' Den was titled Money Tigers.
Money Tigers provided the underlying concept for the British programme: entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors, who question the founders and may offer capital for an ownership stake. The British title changed “tigers” to “dragons”, preserving the image of formidable, powerful investors while giving the programme its own identity.
The concept travelled widely. Different countries developed local versions with their own presenters, investors, currencies and business cultures, but the core dramatic structure remained recognisable. A pitch can succeed because of financial potential, a convincing founder or a strong consumer product; it can also fail when the valuation is considered unrealistic.
Dragons' Den is therefore not an entirely independent British invention, although the UK version developed its own long-running cast and traditions. The related American series Shark Tank also comes from the same broader format lineage, which is why the programmes share many structural features.