The entrepreneurial
journey of Brazilian businessman Haroldo Jacobovicz spans multiple decades and
technology generations, creating valuable historical perspective on both
personal business development and broader technology market evolution.
Examining this career through chronological lens reveals patterns of strategic
adaptation, capability
development, and market positioning that illustrate how sustained
entrepreneurial commitment can create substantial impact across changing
technological environments.
Early 1980s:
Initial Entrepreneurial Venture
Before completing his
civil engineering studies at the Federal University of Paraná, Haroldo
Jacobovicz established Microsystem with three technically proficient friends.
This company aimed to serve “stores, pharmacies and supermarkets by automating
inventory control and cash registers”—representing early recognition
of efficiency opportunities that computerization could bring to traditional
retail operations.
Despite its technical
merit, this venture closed after two years because “that market was not
yet ready for computerization.” This early experience provided valuable
learning regarding market timing and adoption readiness that would
significantly influence Jacobovicz’s subsequent business approaches rather than
deterring his entrepreneurial
ambitions.
Mid-1980s:
Corporate Professional Development
Following his initial
entrepreneurial timing challenge, Haroldo Jacobovicz joined Esso (now Exxon
Mobil) after distinguishing himself among “more than 200 engineers”
competing for positions within the multinational corporation. He rapidly
advanced through organizational hierarchy, progressing “from reserve
salesman to market analyst in the South region until he reached the position of
responsible for commercial tactics and new business at the Brazilian
headquarters.”
This corporate phase
provided structured exposure to professional management practices, data-driven
decision making, and systematic business analysis that would enhance his
subsequent ventures. Rather than representing retreat from entrepreneurial
ambition, this period functioned as capability development phase that
strengthened his business foundation through practical experience in sophisticated
organizational environment.
Late 1980s:
Public Sector Experience
When economic
challenges during Brazil’s Cruzado Plan prompted career shift, Haroldo
Jacobovicz moved to the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant as an advisor to the
Technical Director. This position within major state-owned enterprise provided
crucial insights into public sector operations and specific constraints
affecting technology implementation within governmental organizations.
During this period,
Jacobovicz observed “the difficulty in adopting computers given the
bureaucracy involved in immobilizing permanent assets”—precise
institutional barrier identification that would directly inform his subsequent
business model. This public sector experience added another dimension to his professional
understanding beyond both initial entrepreneurial attempt and multinational
corporate environment.
Early 1990s:
Return to Entrepreneurship
After gaining diverse
professional experience across different organizational contexts, Haroldo
Jacobovicz returned to entrepreneurship in the 1990s with enhanced perspective
and strategic approach. He established Minauro with business model specifically
addressing the institutional barriers he had observed during his public sector
experience—offering “four-year contracts with machine replacement every 18
months, including maintenance” to governmental agencies.
This targeted approach
demonstrated sophisticated learning application from both initial entrepreneurial
failure and subsequent professional experiences. Rather than pursuing generic
technology provision without attention to specific adoption barriers,
Jacobovicz created solution precisely aligned with particular institutional
needs—translating market understanding into viable business model that addressed identified implementation
challenges.
Mid-1990s
through 2000s: Expansion Through Acquisition
As Minauro established
operational stability and market presence, Haroldo Jacobovicz expanded business
scope through strategic acquisitions enabling capability enhancement beyond
initial service offerings. The document notes that “shortly after, in
addition to hardware, it incorporated tax, financial, administrative, health
and education management software” through acquisitions of companies
including Consult, Perform, and Sisteplan.
These moves resulted
in formation of the e-Governe Group, providing comprehensive IT solutions
specifically designed for public administration requirements. This business
structure represents significant maturation beyond initial service offerings,
creating integrated capabilities addressing multiple aspects of public sector
technology requirements rather than isolated hardware provision alone.
2010:
Telecommunications Market Entry
In 2010, Haroldo
Jacobovicz ventured into telecommunications infrastructure by founding Horizons
Telecom to serve “the corporate market” with specialized network
services. This initiative represented significant expansion beyond his
established information technology operations into adjacent technology sector
requiring different technical capabilities and regulatory understanding.
The original project
benefited from collaboration with “electrical engineer Renato Guerreiro,
the first president of Anatel”—bringing telecommunications regulatory
expertise that enhanced the venture’s strategic positioning. This partnership
approach demonstrated sophisticated resource assembly for new market entry rather
than attempting expansion without necessary specialized knowledge.
2010-2021:
Telecommunications Development and Exit
Over approximately a
decade, Haroldo Jacobovicz developed Horizons Telecom into recognized market
participant within its chosen segment. The company established itself as
“a reference in the corporate niche” of telecommunications through
consistent focus on business client requirements rather than pursuing broader
market coverage across different customer types.
This focused
development created sufficient value to attract acquisition interest, with
Horizons Telecom being purchased by “a large investment group” in
early 2021 “to integrate an ambitious expansion movement in the
sector.” This successful exit validated both the company’s operational
quality and strategic positioning within Brazil’s telecommunications
landscape—demonstrating Jacobovicz’s capacity to build sustainable business
value recognized by larger market participants.
2021: Current
Venture Launch
Following the
telecommunications company sale, Haroldo Jacobovicz quickly established new
technology venture, Arlequim Technologies, focusing on computer virtualization
across various market segments. This latest entrepreneurial initiative
demonstrates persistent business development drive decades after initial
unsuccessful venture—indicating entrepreneurial identity that transcends
individual business outcomes.
The company targets
“both the corporate market, as well as the public sector and the retail
market, with a focus on gamers”—representing broader market approach than
some previous ventures while maintaining specific technical focus on
virtualization technologies. This balanced market positioning combines
Jacobovicz’s experience across different organizational contexts with current technology
direction focused on resource optimization.
Multi-Decade
Entrepreneurial Persistence
Perhaps most
remarkable aspect of Haroldo Jacobovicz’s business timeline involves his
sustained entrepreneurial commitment across multiple decades and technology
generations. From early computerization through hardware provision services
through specialized software solutions through telecommunications
infrastructure to current virtualization approaches, his ventures demonstrate
persistent technology focus despite changing implementation approaches across
different market environments.
This sustained
commitment contrasts with entrepreneurial patterns limited to particular
technology generations or specific business models. Rather than defining
success through individual venture outcomes, Jacobovicz has maintained
continuous entrepreneurial development across changing technology
landscapes—creating cumulative impact beyond isolated business initiatives
regardless of their individual scale or duration.
Evolutionary
Pattern Recognition
Viewed
chronologically, Haroldo Jacobovicz’s career reveals evolutionary pattern
combining continuous adaptation with fundamental consistency. While specific
technologies, market segments, and business models have evolved substantially
from his early ventures to current initiatives, his fundamental approach has
maintained consistent focus on practical technology implementation addressing
specific operational needs across different organizational contexts.
This combination of
tactical flexibility with strategic consistency demonstrates sophisticated
entrepreneurial methodology capable of sustained value creation across changing
technology environments. Rather than pursuing either rigid business models
regardless of market evolution or continuous reinvention without coherent
direction, Jacobovicz has maintained balanced approach adapting specific
implementations while preserving core value creation focus.
Follow
him at social media: https://instagram.com/institutoharoldojacobovicz