Which Japanese business programme inspired the format of the UK's Dragon's Den?

Money Tigers inspired the format of the UK's Dragon's Den.

The Japanese programme, known as Money Tigers or Money no Tora, established the central idea of entrepreneurs presenting business proposals to wealthy investors. Contestants sought funding while negotiating valuation and ownership, a structure later adapted for audiences in multiple countries.

The UK version was produced for the BBC as part of this international format family. Although the programme uses the word “Dragons” for its investors, the underlying format is not uniquely British. Different territories changed the title, panel, presentation style, and business culture while retaining the pitch-and-investment framework.

A common mix-up is naming Shark Tank as the original inspiration. Shark Tank is the American adaptation of the same broader format, whereas Money Tigers was the earlier Japanese programme that supplied the original concept. The British title also uses an apostrophe in “Dragon's Den” in its official styling.