Haroldo Jacobovicz: From Hardware to Software to Telecommunications
Technical Education Foundation
The professional journey of Haroldo Jacobovicz began with a solid technical foundation. After seven years at Military College, he pursued Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Paraná, completing the program in four and a half years during the early 1980s. This educational background provided the analytical thinking and problem-solving skills that would later serve him in business, even though his career would ultimately take him beyond traditional engineering into various technology sectors.
First Hardware Venture
The entrepreneurial path of Haroldo Jacobovicz began before he even completed his university studies. Recognizing the potential for computer automation in retail operations, he gathered three friends with computer skills to establish Microsystem. Their company aimed to provide hardware and software solutions for inventory control and cash register operations in stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets. Though this venture closed after two years because the market wasn’t yet ready for such technological integration, it provided valuable lessons about timing and market readiness.
Corporate Experience Building
Following this initial entrepreneurial effort, Haroldo Jacobovicz joined Esso (now Exxon Mobil Corporation). Selected from among more than 200 engineers, he quickly demonstrated his capabilities, advancing from reserve salesman to market analyst for the South region, eventually reaching a position handling commercial tactics and new business at the Brazilian headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. His work there heavily utilized computer-processed data, further deepening his appreciation for information technology’s business applications.
Public Sector Technology Insights
Economic pressures during the Cruzado Plan period, combined with family considerations, eventually prompted Haroldo Jacobovicz to leave Esso and return to Paraná. There, he joined the prestigious Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant project as an advisor to the Technical Director. This role provided unique perspectives on how the public sector approached computerization, including the bureaucratic challenges associated with adopting new technologies—insights that would later shape his business solutions.
Hardware Rental Innovation
After four years in the public sector, Haroldo Jacobovicz returned to entrepreneurship with a refined vision specifically targeting hardware needs in government organizations. He founded Minauro, a company offering an innovative approach to public agencies: computer rental and maintenance with four-year contracts that included equipment replacement every 18 months. This solution directly addressed the bureaucratic hurdles he had observed in public administration and proved highly successful, winning bids throughout Brazil’s South and Southeast regions.
Software Integration and Expansion
As the hardware market matured, Haroldo Jacobovicz recognized the growing importance of specialized software solutions, particularly for public administration. Through strategic acquisitions of companies including Consult, Perform, and Sisteplan, he expanded into software for tax, financial, administrative, health, and education management. This expansion resulted in the formation of the e-Governe Group, which continues to serve Brazilian municipalities with comprehensive IT solutions for public administration. This move represented a strategic shift from hardware-focused solutions to integrated software systems.
Telecommunications Market Entry
In 2010, identifying opportunities in corporate telecommunications, Haroldo Jacobovicz founded Horizons Telecom. This venture represented a significant expansion beyond his established presence in hardware and software solutions. Built from the ground up with premium technical, human, and strategic resources, and based on a project originally conceived by Renato Guerreiro (the first president of Anatel), the company quickly established itself in the corporate telecommunications niche. Within a decade, it became a reference in its market segment before being acquired by a major investment group in early 2021.
Return to Computing with Virtualization
Following his telecommunications success, Haroldo Jacobovicz launched Arlequim Technologies in 2021, returning to the computing sector but with a focus on virtualization rather than physical hardware. This startup offers solutions that enhance the performance of existing equipment to match state-of-the-art machines without requiring new hardware purchases. The service targets corporate, public sector, and retail markets—particularly gamers—providing cost-effective alternatives to equipment replacement.
Technology Sector Evolution
The career progression of Haroldo Jacobovicz reflects the broader evolution of the technology sector over the past four decades. His journey began with hardware solutions when computers were first being introduced to business environments, expanded into software as applications became increasingly important, moved into telecommunications as connectivity became critical for business operations, and now focuses on virtualization as computing resources become more abstract and cloud-based. This progression demonstrates both Jacobovicz’s adaptability and his ability to anticipate technological trends.
Consistent Business Philosophy
Despite the evolution of his business interests across different technology sectors, certain principles have remained consistent throughout Haroldo Jacobovicz’s career. These include his commitment to identifying specific market needs, developing practical solutions that address those needs efficiently, and creating value through thoughtful implementation of technology. These consistent approaches have enabled him to succeed across multiple technology sectors while maintaining a coherent business philosophy.
