Shark Tank is the United States adaptation of Dragon's Den.
Shark Tank uses the same core format: entrepreneurs enter a studio, present their businesses to wealthy investors and request money in exchange for equity. The investors, called Sharks, question the contestants about sales, valuation, profit and growth before deciding whether to make an offer.
The American series premiered on ABC in 2009 and developed its own cast, tone and business culture. Although the programmes share the same underlying format, they are not identical productions. The British show uses Dragons and originated on BBC Two, while the American version uses Sharks and is associated with ABC.
The series is sometimes confused with The Apprentice because both involve business personalities and aspiring entrepreneurs. The difference is structural: Shark Tank and Dragon's Den focus on individual investment pitches, while The Apprentice centres on competitions and employment or partnership decisions led by a business figure.