Brazilian businessman Haroldo Jacobovicz has built multiple technology enterprises that address specific market needs throughout his career. His educational background—seven years at Military College and civil engineering studies at the Federal University of Paraná—provided analytical foundations that he applied to technology sectors rather than traditional construction paths.
This direction differed from family patterns, as his father Alfredo worked as both a civil engineer and university professor, while his mother Sarita was a pioneer as Paraná’s seventh female civil engineer. Yet Haroldo Jacobovicz gravitated toward technological applications, using information from newspapers and magazines to identify opportunities before widespread recognition.
His first business venture began while completing his university degree in the early 1980s. Along with three technically-skilled friends, Haroldo Jacobovicz formed Microsystem to provide retail establishments with computerized inventory and sales tracking when such systems were relatively uncommon in Brazil. Though this company closed after two years because small businesses weren’t yet prepared for digital adoption, the experience delivered important lessons about market timing.
To develop professional expertise, Jacobovicz joined multinational oil company Esso (later Exxon Mobil), progressing from sales roles to market analysis positions utilizing computer-processed data. Economic pressures during Brazil’s Cruzado Plan, together with family considerations, eventually led him to return to Paraná where he served at the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant as an advisor to the Technical Director.
During four years in this governmental role, Jacobovicz recognized how bureaucratic procedures complicated technology implementation. This insight informed his next venture: Minauro, which offered public agencies four-year computer rental agreements including equipment updates and maintenance. This approach helped government entities access current technology while working within procurement regulations—a solution that won numerous contracts throughout Brazil’s southern and southeastern regions.
His technology portfolio expanded when he acquired software companies specializing in public administration systems, creating the e-Governe Group to serve Brazilian municipalities. In 2010, Jacobovicz collaborated with former Anatel president Renato Guerreiro to establish Horizons Telecom, developing this operation into a significant provider before selling to investors in early 2021.
That same year, Jacobovicz launched Arlequim Technologies, focusing on computer virtualization services. This company enhances performance capabilities of existing hardware across different market segments—corporate clients, public sector agencies, and individual users including gaming enthusiasts. By improving computing power without requiring equipment replacement, this approach makes advanced digital capabilities accessible to broader audiences.
Each of these business initiatives demonstrates Jacobovicz’s consistent approach of identifying specific technology gaps within Brazilian contexts and developing solutions that address practical needs. From his earliest attempts at bringing inventory systems to small retailers through his current focus on virtualization technology, his career reflects a pattern of extending technological benefits across various sectors of Brazilian society.