Few entrepreneurs get their first business right. Haroldo Jacobovicz certainly did not, but the failure of his initial company while still a student set the stage for a career spanning software, hardware services, and telecommunications across Brazil.

Growing Up Around Engineering

In the Jacobovicz household in Curitiba, technical problem-solving was part of daily life. His father Alfredo divided his time between civil engineering projects and lecturing at university. His mother Sarita had broken barriers as one of Paraná’s earliest qualified female engineers. With this background, it seemed natural that Jacobovicz would study civil engineering at the Federal University of Paraná after completing his military school education.

The Pull of Computing

Rather than blueprints and building sites, it was circuit boards and software that captured the imagination of Haroldo Jacobovicz. During the early 1980s, he observed businesses beginning to experiment with computerisation and sensed an opportunity. Together with three technically minded colleagues, he created Microsystem in 1983 while still an undergraduate.

Their service promised to bring automation to pharmacies, shops, and supermarkets through computerised inventory management and point-of-sale systems. The idea was logical, but the Brazilian retail market had not yet embraced such tools. Customer interest remained minimal, and after two years of struggle, the founders shut down operations.

Years of Observation and Learning

Instead of rushing into another venture, Jacobovicz spent time working within larger structures. At petroleum company Esso, he was selected from hundreds of applicants and eventually handled commercial strategy from the firm’s Brazilian headquarters. A subsequent role advising leadership at Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant gave him direct exposure to how government organisations approached—and often struggled with—technology adoption.

These positions offered perspectives that a young entrepreneur operating alone would rarely encounter. Understanding both corporate efficiency demands and public sector constraints would prove valuable when Jacobovicz eventually started his next company.

Companies That Found Their Markets

With sharper instincts about customer needs, Haroldo Jacobovicz established Minauro, offering computer leasing arrangements tailored for government bodies. The model worked: public agencies appreciated contracts that bundled equipment, maintenance, and periodic upgrades without complex procurement procedures. Business expanded, and acquisitions of software firms led to the creation of the e-Governe Group, which supplied management systems to Brazilian municipalities.

In 2010, Jacobovicz entered telecommunications through Horizons Telecom. Built to serve corporate clients, the operator grew steadily for over a decade before an investment group acquired it in early 2021.

A New Chapter in Virtualisation

The sale of Horizons freed Jacobovicz to pursue fresh ideas. He responded by launching Arlequim Technologies, a company centred on virtualisation services. The premise involves software solutions that enhance the capabilities of older machines, offering users improved performance without purchasing new hardware. The service appeals to budget-conscious businesses, public entities, and consumers—including gamers seeking better computing experiences.

Now in his fourth decade as a technology entrepreneur, Jacobovicz continues seeking practical ways to deliver computing solutions to varied audiences.