Dragons' Den is the British version of the international format that includes the US show Shark Tank.
Both programmes feature entrepreneurs who present businesses to a panel of wealthy investors. The investors question the founders, examine the proposed valuation and may offer money in return for a percentage of the company.
The main naming difference reflects local adaptation. British investors are called Dragons, while American investors are called Sharks. The structure, however, comes from the same broader format lineage, which began with the Japanese programme Money Tigers.
This relationship does not mean that Dragons' Den and Shark Tank are the same programme or that their panels share investors. They are separate national productions with distinct presenters, investors, companies and broadcast histories.