Educational Foundation
The professional trajectory of Haroldo Jacobovicz began with a solid educational background. After seven formative years at Military College, he pursued Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Paraná, completing the program in four and a half years. Despite this traditional engineering training, Jacobovicz was drawn to the emerging possibilities of Information Technology during the 1980s—a period when computers were just beginning to transform business operations.
Family Influence and Breaking New Ground
As the eldest of four siblings, Haroldo Jacobovicz grew up in an environment steeped in engineering tradition. His father, Alfredo, was both a civil engineer and a university professor, while his mother, Sarita, had broken barriers as the seventh female civil engineer in Paraná. Though this family background might have predisposed him toward conventional engineering practice, Jacobovicz was captivated by unexplored technological territories.
Early Entrepreneurial Initiative
The forward-thinking mindset of Haroldo Jacobovicz manifested before he even completed his university studies. Gathering three friends with computer skills, he established Microsystem—a venture aimed at automating inventory control and cash register operations for retail businesses like stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets. Though the company closed after two years because the market wasn’t yet ready for computerization, this experience provided valuable insights that would inform his future endeavors.
Corporate Experience and Skill Development
Following this initial entrepreneurial effort, Haroldo Jacobovicz joined Esso (now Exxon Mobil Corporation). Selected from among more than 200 engineers, he quickly demonstrated his capabilities, advancing from reserve salesman to market analyst for the South region, eventually reaching a position managing commercial tactics and new business at the Brazilian headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. His work there heavily utilized computer-processed data, further deepening his appreciation for information technology’s business applications.
Public Sector Insights
Economic conditions during the Cruzado Plan period, combined with family considerations, eventually prompted Haroldo Jacobovicz to leave Esso and return to Paraná. There, he joined the prestigious Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant project as an advisor to the Technical Director. This role provided unique perspectives on how the public sector approached computerization, including the bureaucratic challenges associated with classifying technology as permanent assets—a key insight that would later shape his business solutions.
Successful Return to Entrepreneurship
After four years in the public sector, Haroldo Jacobovicz returned to entrepreneurship with a refined vision. He founded Minauro, a company offering an innovative approach to public 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 at Itaipu and proved highly successful, winning bids throughout Brazil’s South and Southeast regions.
Strategic Business Expansion
The business intelligence of Haroldo Jacobovicz led him to expand beyond hardware. Through strategic acquisitions of companies including 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 Venture
In 2010, seeking to address corporate market needs, Haroldo Jacobovicz founded Horizons Telecom. Built from the ground up with premium resources and based on a project originally conceived by Renato Guerreiro (the first president of Anatel), the company quickly established itself in the corporate telecommunications niche. Within a decade, it became a reference in its market segment before being acquired by a major investment group in early 2021.
Current Focus: Computer Virtualization
Following his telecommunications success, 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. The service targets corporate, public sector, and retail markets—particularly gamers—providing cost-effective alternatives to hardware replacement.
Throughout his career, Haroldo Jacobovicz has demonstrated remarkable ability to identify technological opportunities and translate them into practical business solutions that improve daily operations for organizations and individuals.
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