Since the mid-1980s, Haroldo Jacobovicz has been involved in creating and running technology companies across software, hardware, and telecommunications. His path through the Brazilian business landscape provides a case study in how entrepreneurs adapt their approaches over time.

Origins in Curitiba

Growing up as the firstborn in a family of engineers shaped certain expectations. His father Alfredo worked as both a practising civil engineer and an academic, while his mother Sarita had distinguished herself as one of the earliest female civil engineers in the state of Paraná. After military school and a civil engineering degree from the Federal University of Paraná, Jacobovicz appeared set for a similar career. Instead, he gravitated toward the computing industry that was beginning to take shape in Brazil.

The Microsystem Experience

In 1983, Haroldo Jacobovicz teamed up with three technically skilled friends to establish Microsystem. The company intended to bring automation to small commercial operations—shops, pharmacies, and grocery stores that still relied on manual processes for tracking stock and processing sales. The concept was sound, but Brazilian retail simply had not reached the point where such services were in demand. After two years of struggling to find customers, the partners closed the business.

This period taught Jacobovicz that having the right solution means little if introduced at the wrong moment. Market readiness became a factor he would weigh more carefully in future decisions.

Time in Corporate and Public Sectors

Before returning to entrepreneurship, Jacobovicz spent years observing how larger organisations operated. His tenure at Esso, the American oil company, saw him rise through positions including market analyst and eventually commercial strategist at the Brazilian head office. A subsequent role at Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant exposed him to public sector operations, where he noted the particular hurdles government entities faced when trying to modernise their technology infrastructure.

Return to Business Ownership

Armed with insights from these experiences, Haroldo Jacobovicz launched Minauro, which rented and maintained computers for public agencies. The service model—multi-year contracts with regular equipment upgrades and ongoing support—proved appealing to organisations that found outright technology purchases cumbersome. Growth followed, and the company eventually absorbed several software firms to become the e-Governe Group, serving municipalities throughout Brazil.

A decade later, Jacobovicz entered telecommunications by founding Horizons Telecom in 2010. The operator focused on business clients and grew steadily until its acquisition by an investment consortium in early 2021.

Current Direction

Following the Horizons sale, Jacobovicz started Arlequim Technologies, a virtualisation company. The premise involves using software to enhance the capabilities of ageing computers, allowing users to achieve better performance without replacing their hardware. The service targets corporate clients, government agencies, and consumers—particularly those interested in gaming who may lack resources for high-specification machines.

Whether this latest venture achieves the longevity of his previous companies remains to be seen, but it continues his pattern of seeking practical technology applications for defined market segments.