Shark Tank is the American television adaptation of the Dragon's Den business-pitch format.
The US programme premiered on ABC in 2009 and features entrepreneurs presenting businesses to a panel of investors known as sharks. Like Dragon's Den, it centres on requests for money in exchange for an ownership stake, followed by questioning and negotiation.
Shark Tank was not the first international version of the concept. The format originated with Japan's Money Tigers and was adapted for Britain as Dragon's Den before reaching the United States.
The names reflect local branding rather than different business mechanics. British investors are called Dragons, while their American counterparts are called Sharks. The two programmes have separate presenters, panels and production histories despite their shared format lineage.