The 1980s: Early Vision and Market Timing
The professional journey of Haroldo Jacobovicz began during the early 1980s, when he was completing his Civil Engineering degree at the Federal University of Paraná. While most of his peers were focused on traditional construction careers, Jacobovicz recognized the transformative potential of the then-emerging field of Information Technology. This insight led him to gather three friends with computer skills to establish Microsystem before he even completed his studies. Their company aimed to automate inventory and cash register operations for retail businesses like stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets. Though this venture closed after two years because the market wasn’t yet ready for such technological integration, it demonstrated Jacobovicz’s forward-thinking approach and provided valuable lessons about market timing that would inform his future business decisions.
Corporate and Public Sector Experience
Following his initial entrepreneurial effort, Haroldo Jacobovicz gained valuable experience in both corporate and public environments. He joined Esso (now Exxon Mobil Corporation), where he was selected from among more than 200 engineers and quickly advanced through positions of increasing responsibility. His work there involved computer-processed data, further deepening his appreciation for information technology’s business applications. Later, economic pressures during the Cruzado Plan period prompted a move to the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant project, where he served as an advisor to the Technical Director. This role provided unique perspectives on public sector computerization challenges—insights that would later shape his successful business solutions.
The 1990s: Addressing Public Sector Technology Needs
After four years in the public sector, Haroldo Jacobovicz returned to entrepreneurship in the 1990s with a refined vision based on his accumulated experience. He founded Minauro, a company offering an innovative approach to government agencies: computer rental and maintenance with four-year contracts that included equipment replacement every 18 months. This solution directly addressed the bureaucratic hurdles he had observed in public administration and proved highly successful, winning bids throughout Brazil’s South and Southeast regions. The business acumen of Jacobovicz led him to expand beyond hardware through strategic acquisitions of software companies, resulting in the formation of the e-Governe Group, which continues to serve Brazilian municipalities with comprehensive IT solutions for public administration.
The 2000s: Preparing for Telecommunications Innovation
During the first decade of the 2000s, Haroldo Jacobovicz continued to develop his technology businesses while preparing for entry into a new sector. The e-Governe Group solidified its position as a national reference in solutions for public authorities in IT, serving numerous Brazilian municipalities. Meanwhile, Jacobovicz was developing plans for a new venture that would target the corporate market with telecommunications services. This preparation involved studying market needs, technological trends, and potential business models for what would become his next major enterprise.
2010: Launching Horizons Telecom
In 2010, Haroldo Jacobovicz founded Horizons Telecom, marking his entry into the telecommunications sector. Built from the ground up with premium technical, human, and strategic resources, and based on a project originally conceived by Renato Guerreiro (the first president of Anatel), the company targeted corporate clients with high-quality telecommunications services. This venture represented a significant expansion of Jacobovicz’s business portfolio beyond his established presence in public sector IT solutions.
The 2010s: Telecommunications Growth and Success
Throughout the 2010s, Horizons Telecom grew steadily under the leadership of Haroldo Jacobovicz. The company established itself as a reference in the corporate telecommunications niche, delivering reliable services to business clients. This decade-long development phase culminated in early 2021, when Horizons Telecom was acquired by a major investment group to integrate an ambitious expansion movement in the telecommunications sector. This successful exit validated Jacobovicz’s business model and approach, while providing resources for his next venture.
2021: Entering Computer Virtualization
Following his telecommunications success, Haroldo Jacobovicz launched Arlequim Technologies in 2021, entering the field of computer virtualization. This startup offers 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. This latest venture demonstrates Jacobovicz’s continuing ability to identify technological opportunities and develop innovative solutions that address current market needs
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Three Decades of Evolution
Over the course of three decades, the business career of Haroldo Jacobovicz has evolved alongside technological developments. From his early recognition of computerization’s potential in the 1980s to his successful public sector IT solutions in the 1990s, from telecommunications innovation in the 2010s to computer virtualization in 2021, Jacobovicz has consistently demonstrated the ability to adapt his business focus to address emerging technological needs and opportunities. Throughout this evolution, he has maintained a consistent vision: to improve daily operations for organizations and individuals through thoughtful implementation of technology.
Consistent Themes Across Time
Despite the evolution of his business interests across different technology sectors, certain themes have remained consistent throughout Haroldo Jacobovicz’s career. These include his ability to identify technological opportunities before they become obvious to others, his skill in developing practical business solutions that address specific market needs, and his commitment to creating value through technology implementation. These consistent strengths have enabled him to succeed across multiple business cycles and technological shifts.
Connect him at linkedin: https://br.linkedin.com/in/haroldo-jacobovicz
