Haroldo Jacobovicz Builds Technology Career Through Strategic Transitions
The professional story of Haroldo Jacobovicz shows how educational background can serve as a starting point rather than a limitation. Despite training in civil engineering at the Federal University of Paraná, he developed a career focused on information technology and telecommunications by recognizing emerging opportunities in Brazil’s developing digital landscape.
His academic preparation included seven years at Military College followed by engineering studies, creating a foundation of technical discipline. However, it was his curiosity about technological developments that ultimately shaped his professional direction during the 1980s when Brazil was beginning to explore computerization.
While completing his university program, Haroldo Jacobovicz initiated his first business venture. Together with three technically-skilled colleagues, he formed Microsystem to provide automated inventory management for retail establishments. Though the concept addressed genuine business needs, their timing proved premature—the retail sector wasn’t yet prepared to adopt such solutions. This experience ended after two years but provided valuable insights that influenced his later business decisions.
Seeking to build professional credentials, Jacobovicz joined Esso petroleum company, where he stood out among hundreds of engineering candidates. His analytical capabilities facilitated rapid advancement from sales positions to market analysis and eventually to commercial strategy development at the company’s national headquarters. This corporate experience exposed him to data-driven decision-making that further strengthened his interest in information systems.
When Brazil implemented price controls through the Cruzado Plan, creating new business pressures in the fuel sector, Haroldo Jacobovicz reassessed his career direction. He accepted a position at the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant as an advisor to the Technical Director, allowing him to return to Paraná while gaining exposure to how large public organizations approached technology implementation.
After four years in this role, Jacobovicz returned to entrepreneurship with a more measured approach. He established Minauro, offering an equipment rental and maintenance model that addressed the specific procurement challenges faced by government agencies. This solution found success through competitive bids throughout southern and southeastern Brazil.
Building on this foundation, he expanded into software through strategic acquisitions, incorporating financial, administrative, and educational management solutions. These moves led to the creation of the e-Governe Group, which continues providing digital government services to municipalities across Brazil.
In 2010, Haroldo Jacobovicz entered the telecommunications sector by founding Horizons Telecom. Developed with input from the first president of Brazil’s telecommunications regulatory agency, the company targeted corporate clients with specialized connectivity solutions. After establishing it as a recognized industry presence over a decade, he sold the operation in early 2021.
His most recent venture, Arlequim Technologies, launched in 2021 focusing on computer virtualization. The company addresses digital performance needs by optimizing existing hardware capabilities, allowing organizations and individuals to enhance computing power without equipment replacement.
Throughout these various business initiatives, Haroldo Jacobovicz has consistently identified practical applications for emerging technologies. His progression from civil engineering training to information technology entrepreneurship demonstrates how technical knowledge can be applied across different fields when combined with market awareness and strategic timing.
