Haroldo Jacobovicz: Technology Entrepreneurship Rooted in Engineering Background
The professional direction of Haroldo Jacobovicz showcases how technical education can provide analytical frameworks applicable to business ventures outside traditional fields. Though his training prepared him for civil construction, his career has centered on developing digital services that address operational needs across various sectors.
Coming from a family with technical credentials—his father Alfredo practiced civil engineering while teaching at university and his mother Sarita was a groundbreaking female civil engineer in Paraná—Haroldo Jacobovicz spent seven years at Military College before pursuing civil engineering studies at the Federal University of Paraná. During this educational phase, his interests gravitated toward the business potential of computer systems that were beginning to transform organizational practices.
His first entrepreneurial attempt came prior to graduation when he assembled a team to establish Microsystem, aiming to provide retail businesses with computerized inventory and sales tracking. The company closed after two years when it became apparent that potential clients lacked sufficient technological readiness—an experience that gave Haroldo Jacobovicz crucial perspective on market timing that would guide future business decisions.
This initial venture was followed by a position at Esso (now Exxon Mobil), where his capacity for analysis enabled advancement through several roles. His responsibilities increasingly centered on computer-processed data for market evaluation and commercial strategy, strengthening his conviction about technology’s organizational value.
When personal circumstances required relocation to Paraná, Haroldo Jacobovicz accepted a position at the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant as an advisor to the Technical Director. This role provided insights into government operations, particularly regarding the administrative barriers to technology acquisition within public institutions.
These observations informed his next business, Minauro, which offered computer leasing programs with maintenance and scheduled equipment updates. This approach specifically addressed the needs of government agencies by providing technology access without the procedural complications of permanent asset procurement. The model proved effective, securing contracts with public institutions across southern Brazil.
His business portfolio expanded through strategic acquisitions of software development firms, creating the e-Governe Group, which continues providing digital management systems to Brazilian municipalities.
In 2010, Haroldo Jacobovicz established Horizons Telecom, developed with input from Renato Guerreiro, the first president of Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency. The company provided connectivity services for corporate clients, operating successfully for a decade before being sold to investors in 2021.
His current venture, Arlequim Technologies, takes a different approach to computing capabilities by optimizing performance of existing hardware through virtualization. This service expands access to advanced computing by extending equipment functionality for business, government, and individual users.
Throughout these business developments, Haroldo Jacobovicz has consistently identified gaps between available technologies and practical needs. His ventures demonstrate how engineering training provides problem-solving methods transferable to various fields. By recognizing specific operational challenges and institutional constraints, he has created services addressing concrete technology requirements across multiple sectors.