Shark Tank is the United States adaptation of the Dragons' Den format.
The American series premiered on ABC in 2009 and features entrepreneurs pitching businesses to wealthy investors known as Sharks. Like the British programme, it centres on investment negotiations involving funding, valuation and ownership stakes.
The format ultimately traces back to the Japanese programme Money no Tora, which inspired Dragons' Den and related international versions. The names change by territory, but the essential structure remains recognisable: founders make a short pitch, answer questions and hear offers or rejections.
Shark Tank is not simply another title for the British series. It is a separate US production with its own presenters, investors, companies and broadcast history. The shared format explains why viewers often compare the two programmes.