The Roots of a Visionary

Born into a family with strong engineering credentials, Haroldo Jacobovicz seemed destined for a traditional path in civil construction. As the son of Alfredo, a civil engineer and university professor, and Sarita, who made history as the seventh female civil engineer in Paraná, Jacobovicz was surrounded by technical influence from an early age. However, after completing seven years at Military College and earning his Civil Engineering degree from the Federal University of Paraná in the 1980s, Haroldo Jacobovicz chose to pursue the then-emerging field of Information Technology instead of following the expected route.

First Steps into Technology

The entrepreneurial journey of Haroldo Jacobovicz began before he even completed his university studies. Recognizing the potential of automation in business operations, he gathered three friends with computer expertise to establish Microsystem. Their company aimed to revolutionize how stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets managed inventory and cash register operations through computerization. Though this venture closed after two years because the market wasn’t ready for such technological solutions, it demonstrated Jacobovicz’s forward-thinking approach and willingness to take calculated risks.

Building Professional Experience

After his initial entrepreneurial experience, Haroldo Jacobovicz joined Esso (now Exxon Mobil Corporation), where he stood out among more than 200 engineers during the selection process. His capabilities quickly propelled him through the company ranks—from reserve salesman to market analyst for the South region and finally to a position handling commercial tactics and new business at the Brazilian headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. This period provided valuable insights into how technology and data processing could transform business operations at a large scale.

Public Sector Perspectives

Economic factors during the Cruzado Plan period and personal considerations eventually led Haroldo Jacobovicz back to Paraná, where he joined the prestigious Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant project. As an advisor to the Technical Director, he gained unique perspectives on the challenges of technology adoption in public institutions, particularly the bureaucratic hurdles involved in classifying computers as permanent assets. This experience would later inform his business solutions.

Renewed Entrepreneurial Focus

After four years at Itaipu, Haroldo Jacobovicz returned to entrepreneurship with a refined vision. He established Minauro, a company that offered an innovative solution to public agencies: computer rental and maintenance with four-year contracts that included equipment replacement every 18 months. This approach directly addressed the bureaucratic challenges he had observed in the public sector and proved highly successful, winning bids across Brazil’s South and Southeast regions.

Strategic Growth Through Diversification

The business acumen of Haroldo Jacobovicz led him to expand beyond hardware into software solutions for government management. Through strategic acquisitions of companies like Consult, Perform, and Sisteplan, he incorporated specialized 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.

Entering the Telecommunications Sector

In 2010, seeking to address corporate market needs, Haroldo Jacobovicz founded Horizons Telecom. Built from scratch 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 just ten years, it became a reference in its market segment before being acquired by a major investment group in early 2021.

Latest Venture: Virtual Computing Solutions

Following the successful exit from telecommunications, Haroldo Jacobovicz launched Arlequim Technologies in 2021. This new venture focuses on computer virtualization, offering solutions that enhance the performance of existing equipment to match state-of-the-art machines. The service targets corporate, public sector, and retail markets—particularly gamers—providing cost-effective alternatives to hardware replacement.

Throughout his career, Haroldo Jacobovicz has consistently demonstrated the ability to identify technological opportunities and translate them into practical business solutions. His work continues to be driven by the desire to improve daily operations for organizations and individuals through thoughtful implementation of technology.