Haroldo Jacobovicz: Building Technological Bridges Between Public and Private Sectors

The trajectory of
Brazilian entrepreneur Haroldo
Jacobovicz illustrates a rare capacity to understand and address the
technological needs of both corporate and governmental environments. His
professional journey, spanning from the 1980s to the present day, reveals how
experience across different sectors can inform business models that deliver
practical solutions to specific institutional challenges.

Educational
Background and Family Influence

Haroldo Jacobovicz
grew up in an environment where engineering was highly valued. As the eldest of
four siblings, he was raised by parents deeply connected to the field—his
father Alfredo worked as both a civil engineer and university professor, while
his mother Sarita distinguished herself as the seventh female civil engineer in Paraná
state.

This background
naturally influenced his educational path, which included seven years at
Military College followed by civil engineering studies at the Federal
University of Paraná. However, rather than following the traditional civil
construction route, Jacobovicz found himself drawn to the emergent field of information
technology during the 1980s.

First
Entrepreneurial Venture

Before completing his
university education, Haroldo Jacobovicz demonstrated remarkable initiative by
founding Microsystem with three technically skilled friends. The company aimed
to provide automated inventory control and cash register systems to small
businesses including stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets.

Though this venture
closed after two years—the target market wasn’t yet prepared for
computerization—the experience provided valuable insights that would guide
Jacobovicz’s future business approaches. This early encounter with market
timing taught him that technological
vision must align with market readiness.

Corporate and
Public Sector Experience

Following his initial
entrepreneurial effort, Haroldo Jacobovicz joined Esso (now Exxon Mobil) after
distinguishing himself among more than 200 engineer candidates. His rapid
advancement—from reserve salesman to market analyst for Brazil’s South region,
ultimately reaching a position responsible for commercial tactics and new
business development—demonstrated both his technical acumen and business
understanding.

Economic challenges
during Brazil’s Cruzado Plan, combined with personal considerations, later
prompted Jacobovicz to join the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant as an advisor to the
Technical Director. This position provided crucial insights into public sector
operations, particularly regarding the bureaucratic hurdles involved in
technological adoption within governmental institutions.

Leveraging
Cross-Sector Knowledge

The combination of
experiences in entrepreneurship, a multinational corporation, and a state-owned
company gave Haroldo Jacobovicz a unique perspective on technological implementation
across different organizational contexts. This comprehensive understanding
became the foundation for his subsequent business ventures.

Returning to
entrepreneurship in the 1990s, Jacobovicz established Minauro, offering
innovative computer rental and maintenance services primarily to public
agencies. The business model—providing four-year contracts with equipment
replacement every 18 months and included maintenance—directly addressed the
bureaucratic difficulties he had observed in government technology acquisition.

This approach proved
remarkably successful, securing numerous government contracts throughout
Brazil’s South and Southeast regions. Jacobovicz had identified a specific
institutional pain point and developed a tailored solution based on his
cross-sector experience.

Comprehensive
Technology Solutions

Jacobovicz’s business
vision soon expanded beyond hardware to incorporate software solutions through
strategic acquisitions of companies including Consult, Perform, and Sisteplan.
These moves resulted in the creation of the e-Governe Group, which continues to
provide specialized IT solutions to public authorities across Brazilian municipalities.

This expansion
reflected his understanding that effective technology implementation required
integrated approaches addressing both hardware and software requirements,
particularly for public sector clients with specialized administrative needs.

Telecommunications
and Beyond

In 2010, Haroldo
Jacobovicz ventured into telecommunications by founding Horizons Telecom,
targeting the corporate market. Built “from scratch using the best
technical, human and strategic resources available,” the company was
originally conceived with input from electrical engineer Renato Guerreiro, the
first president of Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel).

Within a decade,
Horizons Telecom established itself as a reference in the corporate
telecommunications market, attracting acquisition by a major investment group
in early 2021.

Following this
successful exit, Haroldo Jacobovicz launched Arlequim Technologies in 2021,
focusing on computer virtualization to enhance the performance of existing
equipment across corporate, public sector, and retail markets. This venture
aims to provide cost-effective technological solutions without requiring
hardware replacement.

Bridging
Technological Divides

Throughout his career,
Haroldo Jacobovicz has demonstrated a remarkable ability to translate
experiences from different sectors into practical business models that address
specific institutional needs. His professional journey illustrates how
understanding the distinct technological challenges facing public and private
organizations can create opportunities for solutions that bridge these divides.

By consistently
focusing on practical applications rather than abstract technological concepts,
Haroldo Jacobovicz has built businesses that genuinely improve operational
efficiency across different organizational contexts. His approach demonstrates
how technological entrepreneurship can create value by addressing the unique
requirements of diverse institutional environments.