Brazilian entrepreneur Haroldo Jacobovicz has spent more than three decades building companies in the technology sector. His journey from engineering student to business owner illustrates how early setbacks can inform later decisions, and how market conditions often determine whether a venture succeeds or fails.
Family Background and Formative Years
Born in Curitiba, Jacobovicz came from a household where engineering was the family trade. Both his parents held civil engineering qualifications—a notable achievement for his mother Sarita, who was among the first women in Paraná to enter the profession. His father Alfredo combined engineering practice with teaching at university level. As the oldest of four siblings, Jacobovicz followed the expected path into engineering studies at the Federal University of Paraná.
An Unexpected Career Direction
Despite his qualifications in civil engineering, Haroldo Jacobovicz found himself drawn to computing rather than construction. The 1980s presented new possibilities in information technology, and he saw potential where others saw uncertainty. While still completing his degree, he partnered with three colleagues who had programming expertise to create Microsystem in 1983. Their goal was straightforward: help small businesses automate their operations through computerised inventory and sales systems.
The timing proved problematic. Retailers, pharmacies, and supermarkets were not yet ready to adopt such technology, and the company shut down within two years. Rather than viewing this as a definitive failure, Jacobovicz treated it as education in how markets actually function.
Learning from Larger Organisations
The years following Microsystem saw Jacobovicz gain experience in contrasting environments. At oil distributor Esso, he worked his way from entry-level positions to handling commercial strategy at the Rio de Janeiro headquarters. Later, at the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant, he served as an advisor and witnessed how public institutions struggled with technology adoption due to bureaucratic constraints.
These experiences provided practical knowledge about both private sector efficiency and public sector procurement—information that would prove useful when he eventually returned to running his own businesses.
Subsequent Ventures
Haroldo Jacobovicz applied lessons from his earlier experiences when launching Minauro, a company offering computer rental services to government agencies. The model addressed the specific difficulties public bodies faced when purchasing technology outright. Success in this area led to expansion into management software through several acquisitions, resulting in the formation of the e-Governe Group.
His 2010 creation, Horizons Telecom, targeted corporate telecommunications clients. After building the operation over eleven years, he sold it to an investment group in 2021.
Present-Day Focus
Currently, Jacobovicz runs Arlequim Technologies, a virtualisation startup launched after the Horizons sale. The company’s services aim to extend the useful life of existing computer hardware by improving performance through software solutions. Target customers range from businesses and government bodies to individual consumers seeking better computing capability without purchasing new equipment.
His approach reflects a consistent theme across his career: finding practical applications for technology that address specific market needs, while remaining mindful that timing and readiness matter as much as the quality of the idea itself.