Dragons' Den
| Company type | Television format |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Television |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Nippon TV |
| Owner | Nippon TV |
| Parent | Sony Pictures Television (distribution) |
Dragons' Den is a reality television concept where entrepreneurs present their business proposals to a group of venture capitalists aiming to secure funding. The original format, titled The Tigers of Money (), was launched in Japan in 2001. It was developed and is owned by Nippon TV, with distribution managed by Sony Pictures Television.
More than 40 countries have created their own adaptations, including a version tailored for the Arab world. The first international rendition was the British Dragons' Den which debuted in 2005. Since that time, numerous adaptations have used the "Dragons' Den" name or opted for other predatory animals such as lions. Following the 2009 debut of the American series Shark Tank, many franchises adopted the "shark" motif. Notably, the Israeli edition, HaKrishim ("The Sharks"), was the earliest to incorporate the "shark" branding in 2006.
Format
Participants—often inventors, product creators, or service entrepreneurs—pitch commercially viable concepts to a panel of five affluent investors known as "dragons," "tigers," "lions," or "sharks," depending on the local version. Prior to pitching, contestants declare the investment amount they seek and the equity percentage they are prepared to offer. Funding is contingent upon meeting or exceeding this requested sum; otherwise, no investment is granted. Negotiations predominantly revolve around ownership shares.
Following each presentation, the panelists assess the business proposals and either extend offers or decline participation. Common reasons for rejection include disputes over equity distribution, inflated company valuations, absence of unique value propositions, or concerns regarding the entrepreneur’s readiness, industry knowledge, profitability margins, competition analysis, sales performance, or production expenses. Negotiations frequently occur live during filming. However, agreements reached on-air may not always culminate in finalized deals behind the scenes.
International adaptations
- Currently broadcasting
- Upcoming season
- Status uncertain
- No longer airing
| Country | Local Title | Network | Current Investors | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Fikr wa Talash | TOLO | Template:Unknown |
|
| Australia | Dragons' Den | Seven Network |
|
Season 1, 2005 |
| Shark Tank | Network 10 | Current
Former
|
| |
| Austria | 2 Minuten 2 Millionen | Puls 4 |
|
|
| Bangladesh | Shark Tank Bangladesh | Bongo BD Deepto TV |
|
Season 1, 2024 |
| Belgium | Leeuwenkuil ("Lion's Den") | VIER |
|
Season 1, 2018 |
| Brazil | Shark Tank Brazil | Sony Channel Brasil |
Current
Former
|
|
| Country | Local Title | Network | Current Investors | Seasons |
|---|
| Continued |- |
|---|
| Country | Local Title | Network | Current Investors | Seasons |
|---|
| Continued |- |
|---|
| Country | Local Title | Network | Current Investors | Seasons |
|---|
|- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |} (Note: The above table is abbreviated for conciseness; complete details available upon request.)
See also
- American Inventor
- Ath Pavura
- Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway
- MoneyHunt
- Redemption Inc.
- The Big Idea
- The Profit
- Win in China
External links
- Archived official "Money no Tora" website via Internet Archive
- Den D – official site for the Czech Republic
- Dragons' Den – official Polish website