Shark Tank is the United States adaptation of the format used by the British show Dragon’s Den.
Both programmes feature entrepreneurs who present businesses to a panel of wealthy investors. Contestants usually request a defined amount of money and offer a percentage of ownership, although the exact terms and negotiations differ from pitch to pitch.
Shark Tank premiered in the United States in 2009 on ABC. Its investors are called sharks, while the British programme uses dragons. The different animal names reflect local branding rather than a different basic concept.
The two series are often compared because they share the same international television lineage. Dragon’s Den is the British version, while Shark Tank is the best-known American version. They should not be confused with unrelated business documentaries or ordinary entrepreneur competition programmes.