#2 at what? (Or did you mean: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=%232)

I mean, after YC, the second best startup accelerator, by the "if I didn't get into YC, which accelerator would I consider" metric. (SendGrid still tips the scales for historical performance in favor of TechStars, I guess)

Since I've never heard my entrepreneur friends say stuff like that about 500 Startups ;-) and it's probably too soon to rank accelerators on performance, I went looking for something more scientific. This evaluation is the best I could find -- 500 Startups is #10: http://tech.co/reports/startup-accelerator-report-2012

I don't give that ranking any credibility.

Personally speaking from a Silicon Valley perspective (and having worked at a YC company before), 500 Startups is tied with TechStars on my list. I've never heard of any of the other accelerators on that list except AngelPad.

Thomas Korte has done a terrific job with AngelPad, and I'd rank it as highly as 500 or TechStars, perhaps even higher.

but it's true we are all chasing YC's tail currently.

quotable: "We try harder!" - Avis (and, 500 ;)