Dragons' Den

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dragons' Den
Created byNippon TV
Original workThe Tigers of Money (マネーの虎, manē no tora) (Japan)
OwnerNippon TV
Years2001–present
Films and television
Television seriesDragons' Den (see franchises)
Miscellaneous
GenreReality television
First aired2001; 23 years ago (2001)
DistributorSony Pictures Television

Dragons' Den is a reality television program format in which entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists in the hope of securing investment finance from them. The program originated in 2001 in Japan, where it is known as The Tigers of Money (Japanese: マネーの虎, romanizedmanē no tora), a pun on "The Tiger of Malaya" (マレーの虎, marē no tora), which was the nickname of WWII general Tomoyuki Yamashita.[1] The format was created and is owned by Nippon TV and is distributed by Sony Pictures Television.

Local versions of the show have been produced in over 40 countries, as well as one for the Arab world and Morocco; in some countries, more than one version has been aired. The first version to air outside of Japan was the British programme Dragons' Den, which launched in 2005; in the several years afterward, most versions named themselves Dragons' Den or variations thereof, though some also used other animals in the title, such as lions. Since the launch of the U.S. version of the show, Shark Tank, in 2009, many versions have been named Shark Tank or variations thereof. In versions where the name of the show contains a creature's name, the investors are referred to by that name. The Israeli version of the show, HaKrishim ("The Sharks"), was the first to use the "shark" moniker, during its launch in 2006.

Format[edit]

The contestants are usually inventors, product designers, or service operators who have what they consider to be a viable and potentially very profitable business idea, but who lack funding and/or business acumen. They pitch their idea to five rich entrepreneurial businesspeople, who in most iterations of the show are referred to as "dragons", "tigers" (in the original Japanese show), "lions" or "sharks". Before the show, the contestants have named a specific amount of money that they wish to get along with a percentage in the business that the contestant is offering to sell to the investors. The rules stipulate that if they do not raise at least this amount from the dragons, they get nothing. In return, the contestant gives the dragons a percentage of the company's capital stock, which is the chief point of negotiation. The program does not show the entire pitch as scenes are selected and edited from the episode due to time constraints.

The dragons probe the idea further once the contestant has made the presentation. This will either reveal a sound business proposition resulting in an investment offer from one or more of the dragons in return for equity or a withdrawal from the transaction by either the contestant or all of the dragons. A rejection by the dragons is often given as "I'm out" which is usually triggered (in the investor's opinion) by the investor asking for a larger equity stake in the business than the contestant wants to give up, the contestant's valuation on the business being too high compared to its overall profits, the product not having any proprietary value, or the investor's belief that they cannot add value to the business. Sometimes the dragons identify troubling facts such as an embarrassing lack of preparation on the part of the contestant, the contestant's lack of business knowledge, their perceived margins, competitors, insufficient sales, or high manufacturing costs. Contestants often negotiate and barter with the investors. The deals agreed to on the program may or may not actually be carried through.

International versions[edit]

  Currently airing
  An upcoming season
  Status unknown
  No longer airing
International installments of Dragons' Den / Shark Tank
Country Local title Network Current Investors Seasons
Afghanistan Fikr wa Talash TOLO Un­known
  • Season 1, 2008
  • Season 2, 2014
Arab World Dragons' Den: Al Aareen Future TV
  • Omar El-Quqa
  • Ahmad Tantash
  • Nassif Karam
  • Roger Azar
Season 1, 2007
Australia Dragon's Den Seven Network Season 1, 2005
Shark Tank Network 10 Current

Former

  • Season 1, 2015
  • Season 2, 2016
  • Season 3, 2017
  • Season 4, 2018
  • Season 5, 2023
Austria 2 Minuten 2 Millionen Puls 4
  • Hans Peter Haselsteiner (1–9)
  • Oliver Holle (1)
  • Leo Hillinger (2–9)
  • Michael Altrichter (1–5)
  • Martin Rohla (6–9)
  • Hansi Hansmann (1)
  • Heinrich Prokop (2–5)
  • Florian Gschwandtner (6–8)
  • Felix Ohswald (9)
  • Selma Prodanovic (1)
  • Marie Hélène Ametsreiter (2–4)
  • Katharina Schneider (5–9)
  • Daniel Mattes (1)
  • Daniel Zech (2–7)
  • Philipp Maderthaner (8–9)
  • Alexander Schuetz (8–9)
  • Stefan Piëch (8–9)
  • Season 1, 2013
  • Season 2, 2014
  • Season 3, 2015
  • Season 4, 2016
  • Season 5, 2017
  • Season 6, 2018
  • Season 7, 2019
  • Season 8, 2020
  • Season 9, 2021
Belgium Leeuwenkuil VIER Season 1, 2018
Bangladesh Shark Tank Bangladesh Bongo, Deepto TV Season 1, 2024
Brazil Shark Tank Brazil[pt] Sony Brasil

Current

  • João Appolinário (1–)
  • José Carlos Semenzato (4–)
  • Carol Paiffer (5–)
  • Joel Jota (8–)
  • Monique Evelle (8–)
  • Sergio Zimerman (8–)

Former

  • Camila Farani (1–6)
  • Christiana Arcangeli (1–4)
  • Robinson Shiba (1–3)
  • Sorocaba (1)
  • Caito Maia (2–)
  • Sandra Chayo (7)
  • Felipe Titto (7)
  • Season 1, 2016
  • Season 2, 2017
  • Season 3, 2018
  • Season 4, 2019
  • Season 5, 2020
  • Season 6, 2021
  • Season 7, 2022
  • Season 8, 2023
Canada Dragons' Den CBC

Current

Former

  • Season 1, 2006
  • Season 2, 2007
  • Season 3, 2008
  • Season 4, 2009
  • Season 5, 2010
  • Season 6, 2011
  • Season 7, 2012
  • Season 8, 2013
  • Season 9, 2014
  • Season 10, 2015
  • Season 11, 2016
  • Season 12, 2017
  • Season 13, 2018
  • Season 14, 2019
  • Season 15, 2020
  • Season 16, 2021
  • Season 17, 2022
Season 18, 2023
Dans l'œil du dragon(fr) Ici Télé
  • Season 1, 2012
  • Season 2, 2013
  • Season 3, 2014
  • Season 4, 2015
  • Season 5, 2016
  • Season 6, 2017
  • Season 7, 2018
  • Season 8, 2019
  • Season 9, 2020
  • Season 10, 2021
  • Season 11, 2022
China 中国合伙人
("Chinese Partner")
Shenzhen Satellite TV
  • Bob Xu (1–2)
  • Annabelle Long Yu (1–2)
  • Li Guoqing (1–2)
  • Yao Jinbo (1–2)
  • Hugo Shong (1)
  • Zhou Hongyi (1)
  • Jerry Huang (2)
  • Season 1, 2016
  • Season 2, 2017
Colombia Shark Tank Colombia[es] Canal Sony

Current

  • Mauricio Hoyos (1–)
  • Alexander Torrenegra (1–3, 5–)
  • Leonardo Wehe (2–)
  • Andrea Arnau (3–)
  • Hanoi Morillo (4–)
  • Miguel McAllister (5–)
  • Álvaro Rodríguez (5–)

Former

  • Ricardo Leyva (1–4)
  • Frank Kanayet (1–3)
  • Juliana Barreto (1–2)
  • Alejandra Torres (3–4)
  • Samy Bessudo (3–4)
  • Miguel Caballero (4)
  • Season 1, 2018
  • Season 2, 2019
  • Season 3, 2020
  • Season 4, 2022
  • Season 5, 2023
Croatia Dragon's Nest HRT
  • Maja Pečarević
  • Hrvoje Prpić
  • Davor Štern
  • Juroslav Buljubašić
  • Branko Roglić
Season 1, 2007
(Cancelled in production)
Czech Republic Den D
(The D-Day)
ČT1
  • Dana Bérová (1–3)
  • Marta Nováková (1–3)
  • Tomio Okamura (1–3)
  • Ivan Pilný (1, 3)
  • Ondřej Bartoš (1–2)
  • Michael Rostock (2–4)
  • Margareta Křížová (4)
  • Petra Rychnovská (4)
  • John Vanhara (4)
  • Michal Hanus (4)
  • Season 1, 2009
  • Season 2, 2010
  • Season 3, 2011
  • Season 4, 2012
Denmark Løvens Hule DR1

Current

  • Louise Herping Ellegaard (8–)
  • Anne Stampe (8–)
  • Morten Larsen (9-)
  • Nikolaj Nyholm (9-)
  • Tahir Siddique (9-)

Former

  • Ilse Jacobsen (1–3)
  • Jan Dal Lehrmann (4–7)
  • Tommy Ahlers (1–3)
  • Mia Wagner (4–7)
  • Birgit Aaby (1–3)
  • Peter Warnøe (4)
  • Christian Stadil (1–4)
  • Jesper Buch (1–8)
  • Christian Arnstedt (5–8)
  • Jacob Risgaard (5–8)
  • Season 1, 2015
  • Season 2, 2016
  • Season 3, 2018
  • Season 4, 2019
  • Season 5, 2019-2020
  • Season 6, 2021
  • Season 7, 2022
  • Season 8, 2023
  • Season 9, 2024
Egypt Dragons' Den is El Mashroua Alnahar
  • Hala Hattab
  • Hisham Al Jamal
Season 1, 2013
Finland Leijonan kita [fi]
(Lion's Mouth)
MTV3 Season 1, 2007
Leijonan luola [fi]
(Lion's Den)
Nelonen
  • Riku Asikainen (1–2)
  • Ari Lahti (1–2)
  • Jorma Terentjeff (1)
  • Anne Berner (1)
  • Oskari Lehtonen (1)
  • Miika Toivonen (2)
  • Saga Forss (2)
  • Kim Väisänen (2)
  • Season 1, 2013
  • Season 2, 2018
Leijonan luola Suomi
(Lion's Den Finland)
Season 1, 2023
France Qui veut être mon associé?
("Who wants to be my business partner?")
M6

Current

Former

  • Season 1, 2020
  • Season 2, 2022
  • Season 3, 2023
Germany Die Höhle der Löwen
("The Lions' Den")
VOX

Current

Former

  • Season 1, 2014
  • Season 2, 2015
  • Season 3, 2016
  • Season 4, 2017
  • Season 5, 2018
  • Season 6, 2019
  • Season 7, 2020
  • Season 8, 2020
  • Season 9, 2021
  • Season 10, 2021
  • Season 11, 2022
  • Season 12, 2022
  • Season 13, 2023
Greece Dragons' Den ANT1
  • Haris Vafias
  • Tasos Economou
  • Demetrios Mallios
  • Lily Perganda
  • Maria Hatzistefani
  • Leon Yohai
  • Season 1, 2022
  • Season 2, 2023
Hungary Cápák között
("Among Sharks")[hu]
RTL

Current

  • Levente Balogh (1–)
  • Péter Balogh (1–)
  • András Moldován (1–)
  • István Lakatos (3–5, 7–)
  • Ilona Orbók (6–)
  • Dr. Eszter Varga (6–)
  • Albert Sárospataki (7–)

Former

  • Gyula Fehér (1–2)
  • Anna Apró (1)
  • Szabina Tomán (2–5)
  • Season 1, 2019
  • Season 2, 2020
  • Season 3, 2021
  • Season 4, 2022
  • Season 5, 2023
  • Season 6, 2023
  • Season 7, 2024
India Shark Tank India SET

Current

  • Anupam Mittal (1–)
  • Namita Thapar (1–)
  • Peyush Bansal (1–)
  • Vineeta Singh (1–)
  • Aman Gupta (1–)
  • Amit Jain (2–)

Former

  • Ashneer Grover (1)
  • Ghazal Alagh (1)
  • Season 1, 2021
  • Season 2, 2023
Ireland Dragons' Den RTE One
  • Season 1, 2009
  • Season 2, 2010
  • Season 3, 2011
  • Season 4, 2012
  • Season 5, 2013
  • Season 6, 2014
  • Season 7, 2015
  • Season 8, 2017
Israel Hakrishim
("The Sharks")[he]
Channel 10 (1–2)

Keshet 12 (3–5)

  • Aviv Tzidon (1–2)
  • Jacky Ben-Zaken (1–2)
  • Zeev Holtzman (1)
  • Amir Eyal (2, 5)
  • Isralea Shatir (1)
  • Yossi Moladvasky (2)
  • Nir Shretzky (1)
  • Nir Barkat (2)
  • Oded Daseu (1)
  • Ronni Ross (2)
  • Dovvi Frances (3–5)
  • Zohar Levkovitz (3–5)
  • Hadar Goldman (3)
  • Eldad Tamir (4)
  • Stav Schachman (3)
  • Oren Dobronsky (4–5)
  • Enia Adivberar (3)
  • Yasmin Luchach (4–5)
  • Season 1, 2006
  • Season 2, 2007
  • Season 3, 2018
  • Season 4, 2020
  • Season 5, 2022
Italy Shark Tank Italia[it] Italia 1
  • Luciano Bonetti
  • Fabio Cannavale
  • Gianpietro Vigorelli
  • Mariarita Costanza
  • Gianluca Dettori
Season 1, 2015
Japan Manē no Tora
("Money Tigers")
Nippon TV Various
  • Season 1, 2001
  • Season 2, 2002
  • Season 3, 2003
  • Season 4, 2004
Kenya Lion's Den NTV Season 1, 2016
Malta Shark Tank Malta TVM Current
  • Mark Bajada (1–)
  • Alexander Fenech (1–)
  • Michael Bonello (1–)
  • Dino Fino (2–)
  • Kirsy Kullmann (3–)

Former

  • Mark Weingard (1–2)
  • Christabelle Borg (1–2)
  • Season 1, 2022
  • Season 2, 2023
  • Season 3, 2024
Mexico Shark Tank Mexico[es] Current
  • Marcus Dantus (3–)
  • Alejandra Ríos Spinola (6–)
  • Marisa Lazo (6–)
  • Alejandro Litchi (7–)
  • Amaury Vergara (7–)
  • Adriana Gallardo (8–)
  • Brian Requarth (8–)
  • Karla Berman (8–)
  • Oswaldo Trava (8–)

Former

  • Rodrigo Herrera Aspra (1–6)
  • Carlos Bremer (1–5)
  • Arturo Elías Ayub (1–2, 4–6)
  • Jorge Vergara (1–2)
  • Ana Victoria García (1)
  • Patricia Armendáriz (2–5)
  • Luis Harvey (3–4)
  • Braulio Arsuaga (7)
  • Ernesto Coppel (7)
  • Season 1, 2016
  • Season 2, 2017
  • Season 3, 2018
  • Season 4, 2019
  • Season 5, 2020
  • Season 6, 2021
  • Season 7, 2022
  • Season 8, 2023
Nepal Shark Tank Nepal Himalaya TV TBA TBA
Netherlands Dragon's Den

Current

  • Won Yip (3–)
  • Pieter Schoen (3–)
  • Shawn Harris (3–)
  • Manon van Essen (5–)
  • Bas Witvoet (5–)

Former

  • Henk Keilman (1–2)
  • Annemarie Van Gaal (1–2)
  • Willem Sijtoff (1–2)
  • Arjen De Koning (1–2)
  • Jan Pieter Melchior (1)
  • George Banken (2)
  • Michael Perridon (3–4)
  • Nikkie Plesson (3–4)
  • Season 1, 2007
  • Season 2, 2008
  • Season 3, 2020
  • Season 4, 2021
  • Season 5, 2022
New Zealand Dragon's Den New Zealand TV One Season 1, 2006
Nigeria Dragons' Den AIT Network Season 1, 2008
Pakistan Dragons' Den Neo News
  • Salim Ghauri
  • Naeem Zamindar
  • Humayun Mazhar
Season 1, 2017
Poland Dragons' Den – jak zostać milionerem
("How to be a millionaire")
TV4
  • Maciej Kaczmarski (1–3)
  • Marian Owerko (1–3)
  • Anna Hejka (3)
  • Andrzej Glowacki (3)
  • Adam Kruszewski (3)
  • Anna Garwolińska (1–2)
  • Grzegorz Hajdarowicz (1–2)
  • Krzysztof Golonka (1)
  • Marek Rusiecki (2)
  • Season 1, 2011
  • Season 2, 2012
  • Season 3, 2012
Portugal Shark Tankñ[pt] SIC
  • Mário Ferreira
  • João Rafael Koehler
  • Susana Sequeira
  • Tim Vieira
  • Miguel Ribeiro Ferreira
  • Season 1, 2015
  • Season 2, 2016
Romania Arena Leilor
("Lions' Arena")
TVR 2
  • Marius Ghenea (1–7)
  • Dragoș Anastasiu (1–7)
  • Cristina Bâtlan (1–3)
  • Rucsandra Hurezeanu (4)
  • Cristina Bâtlan (5–6)
  • Sorin Posa (1)
  • Radu Ioan Tudorache (2–3)
  • Florin Talpes (4–7)
  • Gyorgy Baba (1–2)
  • Micrea Tudor (4–6)
  • Orlando Szasz (7)
  • Carmen Sandulescu (1)
  • Mirela Rosca (2)
  • Teodor Frolu (4)
  • Mihaela Nicola (5–6)
  • Season 1, 2007
  • Season 2, 2008
  • Season 3, 2009
  • Season 4, 2010
  • Season 5, 2011
  • Season 6, 2012
  • Season 7, 2013
Imperiul Leilor
("Lions' Empire")
Pro TV
  • Dragos Petrescu (1–4)
  • Mohammad Murad (1–2)
  • Daniela Mariscu (1)
  • Cristian Onețiu (1)
  • Monica Cadogan (1)
  • Dan Șucu (2–4)
  • Cristina Bâtlan (2–4)
  • Bogdan Micu (2)
  • Sebastian Dobrincu (3)
  • Wargha Enayati (3–4)
  • Daniel Mischie (4)
  • Felix Patrăşcanu (4)
  • Răzvan Raţ (4)
  • Mircea Căpăţînă (4)
  • Season 1, 2019
  • Season 2, 2020
  • Season 3, 2021
  • Season 4, 2023
Russia Kapital TNT Season 1, 2006
Saudi Arabia Dragons' Den STV1
  • Saleh Kamel
  • Ahmed Fitihy
  • Nashwa Altahir
  • Altaiar
  • Alhalafy
Season 1, 2011
Slovakia Jama Levova
("The Lion Pit")
TV Markiza
  • Igor Rattaj
  • Milan Dubec
  • Tatiana Ondrejkova
  • Juraj Fehervari
  • Igor Kolla
Season 1, 2023
Slovenia Dober posel Planet TV
  • Branko Drobnak
  • Borut Rismal
  • Daniela Bervar
  • Jure Mikuž
  • Matjaž Krč
Season 1, 2012
South Africa Dragons' Den Mzansi Magic
  • Season 1, 2014
  • Season 2, 2015
Shark Tank South Africa M-Net
  • Dawn Nathan-Jones
  • Vinny Lingham
  • Romeo Kumalo
  • Marnus Broodryk
  • Gil Oved
Season 1, 2016
Spain Tu Oportunidad
("Your Opportunity")
TVE
  • María Eugenia Girón
  • Javier Pérez Dolset
  • Catalina Hoffmann
  • Gonzalo de la Cierva
  • Pablo Gimeno
Season 1, 2013
Sweden Draknästet[sv]
("The Dragons' Nest")

Current

  • Lena Apler (4–)
  • Sara Wimmercranz (4–)
  • Shervin Razani (4–)
  • Jonas Tellander (6–)
  • Fredrik Eklund (6–)
  • Ash Pournouri (6–)
  • Hannah Widell (6–)
  • Christian von Koenigsegg (6–)

Former

  • Mats Gabrielsson (1–2)
  • Ljubo Mrnjavac (1)
  • Gunilla von Platen (1)
  • Sven Hagströmer (1–2)
  • Richard Båge (1–2)
  • Douglas Roos (2)
  • Susanna Falkengren (2)
  • Dani Evanoff (3)
  • Anne Berner (3)
  • Anders Holm (3)
  • Lars Wingefors (3)
  • Olle Nordberg (3)
  • Jacob de Geer (4–5)
  • Jonas Eriksson (4–5)
  • Season 1, 2009
  • Season 2, 2010
  • Season 3, 2014
  • Season 4, 2021
  • Season 5, 2022
  • Season 6, 2023
Switzerland Die Höhle der Löwen Schweiz
("Lion's Den Switzerland")

Current

  • Tobias Reichmuth (1–)
  • Bettina Hein (1–)
  • Roland Brack (1–)
  • Anja Graf (1–)
  • Jürg Schwarzenbach (3–)
  • Lukas Speiser (3–)
  • Patrick Mollet (3–)

Former

  • Season 1, 2019
  • Season 2, 2020
  • Season 3, 2021
  • Season 4, 2022
Thailand Shark Tank Thailand Channel 7

Current

  • Natavudh Pungcharoenpong (1–)
  • Krit Srichawla (1–)
  • Bhurit Bhirombhakdi (2–)
  • Chanapan Juangroongruan (3–)
  • Prapol Milintachinda (3–)

Former

  • Shannon Kalayanamitr (1)
  • Chalermchai Mahagitsiri (1)
  • Bodintorn Juangroongruangkit (2)
  • Nishita Shah (1)
  • Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip (2)
  • Rawit Harnausanha (1)
  • Season 1, 2019
  • Season 2, 2020
  • Season 3, 2022
Trinidad and Tobago Planting Seeds CNC3
  • Joseph Rahael
  • Racquel Moses
  • Joe Pires
  • Sheldon Stephen
  • Season 1, 2016
  • Season 2, 2017
  • Season 3, 2018
  • Season 4, 2019
Turkey Dragons' Den Türkiye Bloomberg HT Season 1, 2010
Ukraine Акули бізнесу
(Akuly biznesu, "Business Sharks")
ICTV Un­known Season 1, N/A
United Kingdom Dragons' Den

Current

Former

  • Season 1, 2005
  • Season 2, 2005
  • Season 3, 2006
  • Season 4, 2007
  • Season 5, 2007
  • Season 6, 2008
  • Season 7, 2009
  • Season 8, 2010
  • Season 9, 2011
  • Season 10, 2012
  • Season 11, 2013
  • Season 12, 2014
  • Season 13, 2015
  • Season 14, 2016
  • Season 15, 2017
  • Season 16, 2018
  • Season 17, 2019
  • Season 18, 2021
  • Season 19, 2022
  • Season 20, 2023
United States Shark Tank ABC

Current

Former

  • Season 1, 2009
  • Season 2, 2011
  • Season 3, 2012
  • Season 4, 2012
  • Season 5, 2013
  • Season 6, 2014
  • Season 7, 2015
  • Season 8, 2016
  • Season 9, 2017
  • Season 10, 2018
  • Season 11, 2019
  • Season 12, 2020
  • Season 13, 2021
  • Season 14, 2022
  • Season 15, 2023
Vietnam Khởi nghiệp VTV3 Un­known 2005–2006
Shark Tank Vietnam – Thương vụ bạc tỷ[vi] VTV3 Un­known
  • Season 1, 2017
  • Season 2, 2018
  • Season 3, 2019
  • Season 4, 2020
  • Season 5, 2022
  • Season 6, 2023

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Tanaka, Yuki (1 September 2008). "Last Words of the Tiger of Malaya, General Yamashita Tomoyuki". JapanFocus. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013.

External links[edit]