Money Tigers is recognised as the Japanese television programme that inspired the Dragon's Den format.
Money Tigers established the central idea of entrepreneurs presenting business proposals to wealthy investors who could offer money in return for an ownership stake. That concept was adapted for different countries, with each version changing the panel, presentation style and branding for its local audience.
The British adaptation uses “Dragons” as its investor title, while the best-known American adaptation uses “Sharks.” The UK programme premiered in 2005 and became one of the most successful international versions of the format.
Money Tigers is sometimes confused with Shark Tank because many international viewers know the US edition better than the Japanese origin. Shark Tank is another adaptation, not the original Japanese programme. The format’s international success comes from the simple, repeatable structure of a pitch followed by negotiation.