Following is a preview of the major events happening this week at the Forward Festival:

Accelerate Madison is bringing together a dream team of entrepreneurs who will participate in a lightning round of startup pitches. Companies represented include StudyBlue, PerBlue, Murfie and SnowShoe. Networking begins at 5 tonight at the Majestic.

The flagship event of the festival is the sold-out Forward Technology Conference, held all day Wednesday at the Memorial Union. This year’s theme is “barriers and plateaus,” with panels on funding and finding co-founders. Eric Ries, author of “The Lean Startup,” will be a guest speaker, although remotely. A networking reception immediately follows.

High Tech Happy Hour‘s anniversary party will take place from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the Memorial Union. Already Madison’s largest networking event, this party will likely draw 400-500 people, according to its organizers.

Friday and Saturday will see the annual Ruby Conference. Workshops, a diverse range of speakers and a special party Friday night are the highlights.

Another new coworking space, Madworks Coworking at University Research Park, is the site of the Emerging Company Forum, which starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Learn how to develop relationships with investors, then take a tour of the new space.