The Japanese business reality show Money Tigers inspired the British TV programme Dragons' Den.
Money Tigers provided the underlying format in which entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to wealthy investors. The investors question the presenters about their products, finances and ambitions, then decide whether to offer funding in return for an equity share.
The format travelled internationally under different titles. In Britain, the investors became known as Dragons, while the programme retained the distinctive den setting and emphasis on negotiation. The business-pitch structure has since appeared in versions in countries including the United States, Canada and Australia.
A common mix-up is to identify Shark Tank as the original programme. Shark Tank is instead the American adaptation of the format. The British series and its American counterpart both descend from the Japanese concept, rather than one being the direct original of the other.