The Innovative Path of Haroldo Jacobovicz in Brazil’s Technology Landscape
After completing his studies at Military School followed by earning his civil engineering degree from Federal University of Paraná, Haroldo Jacobovicz chose an unexpected career direction. Despite coming from a family with deep roots in traditional engineering—his father Alfredo taught at the university level while his mother Sarita broke barriers as one of Paraná’s earliest female civil engineers—Jacobovicz was captivated by the nascent computing revolution of the 1980s.
While still completing his university education, Jacobovicz demonstrated entrepreneurial instincts by assembling a team of three technically-minded colleagues to launch Microsystem. This startup aimed to digitize inventory management and point-of-sale operations for local retailers including pharmacies and grocery stores. Though the venture lasted only two years—closing because Brazilian businesses weren’t prepared to embrace computerization at that time—it reflected Jacobovicz’s forward-looking perspective regarding technology’s business potential.
After this initial entrepreneurial attempt, Jacobovicz joined the multinational energy corporation Esso (later known as Exxon Mobil). Distinguished from hundreds of other engineering applicants, he progressed rapidly through several positions—beginning as a backup sales representative before advancing to market analyst for Brazil’s southern region and eventually securing a role managing commercial strategy and business development at the company’s national headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. This corporate experience deepened his understanding of how data processing could transform business operations.
Economic factors during Brazil’s Cruzado Plan era, combined with personal considerations, prompted Jacobovicz to return to his home state of Paraná. There he joined the prestigious Itaipu Hydroelectric facility as a technical director’s advisor. This position provided valuable insights into the particular challenges government institutions faced when adopting computer technology, especially regarding procurement processes and asset classification—knowledge that would later inform his successful business ventures.
After gaining experience in both multinational corporate and government settings, Jacobovicz returned to entrepreneurship with a refined concept. He established Minauro, providing government agencies with a novel solution: technology leasing contracts spanning four years with hardware upgrades every eighteen months. This approach elegantly addressed the administrative obstacles he had witnessed firsthand at Itaipu, winning numerous contracts throughout
Brazil’s south and southeast.
Jacobovicz later expanded beyond hardware through strategic acquisitions of specialized software developers including Consult, Perform, and Sisteplan. This growth led to the creation of the e-Governe Group, delivering comprehensive digital solutions for municipal administration including tax collection, financial management, healthcare, and education systems.
In 2010, identifying opportunities in the enterprise telecommunications sector, Jacobovicz founded Horizons Telecom. Developed using premium resources and building upon conceptual groundwork from Renato Guerreiro (Anatel’s inaugural president), the company quickly established itself as a leader in corporate connectivity solutions. A decade later, Horizons Telecom was acquired by a major investment consortium.
Following this successful exit, Jacobovicz launched Arlequim Technologies in 2021, focusing on computer virtualization. This innovative service enhances the performance of existing hardware to match cutting-edge equipment capabilities without requiring physical replacement—offering cost-effective solutions for corporate clients, government agencies, and individual users, particularly gaming enthusiasts.
Throughout his professional journey, Jacobovicz has consistently demonstrated an ability to identify technological opportunities before they become obvious to others, applying practical solutions to real-world challenges across multiple sectors of the Brazilian economy.
He is in social network: https://www.facebook.com/institutoharoldojacobovicz/