Bert Foer started the American Antitrust Institute in 1997 to give consumers a voice in antitrust, when advocacy was dominated by businesses. AAI was first regarded as out of date and marginal, but Bert Foer has established it today as a voice respected by media, competition agencies, and consumer groups. The biggest problem for AAI in the long run is funding, but it remains reluctant to take money that might be seen as compromising its independence.