Which television format inspired the U.S. reality series Shark Tank?

The television format that inspired the U.S. reality series Shark Tank is Dragons' Den.

Dragons' Den is a Japanese-originated business reality format in which entrepreneurs present proposals to wealthy investors. The format was adapted for several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States. Shark Tank is the American adaptation, while Dragons' Den remains the title used in many other markets.

The central structure is similar in both programs: entrepreneurs enter a studio, present a business or product, and negotiate with a panel of investors. The investors may ask about sales, ownership, valuation, manufacturing, and distribution before deciding whether to make an offer.

A common mix-up is treating Dragons' Den as a competing American show. In fact, the U.S. series is part of the same international format family. The American title uses “sharks” rather than “dragons” to describe its investors.