The Business Philosophy of Haroldo Jacobovicz: Seeing Opportunities Others Miss
An Engineer with Visionary Perspective
Haroldo Jacobovicz possesses what many would describe as a rare gift: the ability to perceive potential where others see only the present state of things. Though trained as a civil engineer at the Federal University of Paraná in the 1980s, Jacobovicz directed his professional focus toward Information Technology—a field that was still in its infancy at the time but that he correctly identified as transformative for business operations.
Family Background and Early Influences
The intellectual curiosity that characterizes Haroldo Jacobovicz may be partially attributed to his upbringing. As the eldest of four siblings, he grew up in a household where engineering was the family business. His father, Alfredo, worked as both a civil engineer and a university professor, while his mother, Sarita, had made history as the seventh female civil engineer in Paraná. Beyond this technical foundation, Jacobovicz developed a habit of voracious reading, particularly newspapers and magazines, which provided him with global awareness and sparked ideas he would later implement.
First Venture: Learning Through Experience
The entrepreneurial journey of Haroldo Jacobovicz began before he even completed his university studies when he gathered three friends with computer expertise to establish Microsystem. Their goal was to provide automation solutions for inventory control and cash registers in retailestablishments. Though the company closed after two years because the market wasn’t yet prepared for computerization, this experience taught Jacobovicz valuable lessons about timing and market readiness—insights that would guide his future business decisions.
Corporate Training Ground
Following this initial venture, Haroldo Jacobovicz joined Esso (now Exxon Mobil Corporation), where he distinguished himself among more than 200 engineers during the selection process. His capabilities quickly propelled him through the company ranks—from reserve salesman to market analyst for the South region and eventually to a position responsible for commercial tactics and new business at the Brazilian headquarters. This period provided crucial experience in how large organizations could leverage data processing for business advantage.
Public Sector Perspective
When economic conditions and personal considerations prompted a career shift, Haroldo Jacobovicz returned to Paraná to join the prestigious Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant project as an advisor to the Technical Director. This position offered unique insights into the public sector’s approach to technology adoption, particularly the bureaucratic challenges associated with classifying computers as permanent assets—a key understanding that would later inform his business solutions.
Successful Entrepreneurial Return
After four years in the public sector, Haroldo Jacobovicz returned to entrepreneurship with a refined vision. He established Minauro, offering an innovative solution to public agencies: computer rental and maintenance with four-year contracts that included equipment replacement every 18 months. This approach directly addressed the bureaucratic hurdles he had observed at Itaipu and proved highly successful, winning bids across Brazil’s South and Southeast regions.
Strategic Growth Through Diversification
The business acumen of Haroldo Jacobovicz led him to expand beyond hardware into software solutions. Through strategic acquisitions of companies like Consult, Perform, and Sisteplan, he incorporated specialized software for tax, financial, administrative, health, and education management. This expansion resulted in the formation of the e-Governe Group, which continues to serve Brazilian municipalities with comprehensive IT solutions for public administration.
Telecommunications Success
In 2010, recognizing opportunities in the corporate market, Haroldo Jacobovicz founded Horizons Telecom. Built from scratch with premium technical, human, and strategic resources, and based on a project originally conceived by Renato Guerreiro (the first president of Anatel), the company quickly established itself as a reference in the corporate telecommunications niche. Within just a decade, it achieved such success that it was acquired by a major investment group in early 2021.
Latest Innovation: Computer Virtualization
Following his telecommunications exit, Haroldo Jacobovicz launched Arlequim Technologies in 2021. This startup focuses on computer virtualization, offering solutions that enhance the performance of existing equipment to match state-of-the-art machines without requiring new hardware purchases. The service targets corporate, public sector, and retail markets—particularly gamers—providing cost-effective alternatives to equipment replacement.
Throughout his career, Haroldo Jacobovicz has consistently demonstrated the ability to identify technological opportunities before they become obvious to others and to translate these insights into practical business solutions that create value for organizations and individuals.