Business careers rarely follow straight lines, and the trajectory of Haroldo Jacobovicz demonstrates how early disappointments can shape later achievements. Over more than thirty years, this Curitiba-born entrepreneur has founded multiple technology companies, closed one, sold another, and continues building new ventures today.

A Household of Engineers

The Jacobovicz family had strong ties to civil engineering. Both parents held degrees in the field—his father Alfredo practised engineering while also teaching at university, and his mother Sarita was among a small group of women who had qualified as civil engineers in Paraná during an era when the profession was almost exclusively male. As the eldest of four children, Jacobovicz pursued the same educational path, graduating from the Federal University of Paraná with an engineering degree after completing military schooling.

Choosing a Different Direction

Though qualified to work in construction, Haroldo Jacobovicz developed other interests. The personal computer revolution was gaining momentum globally, and he believed Brazilian businesses would soon require technology services. Before finishing his degree, he partnered with three acquaintances who understood programming and launched Microsystem in 1983.

The company offered to automate operations for retailers—managing inventory and sales through computerised systems. But the customer base they anticipated did not materialise. Shop owners remained unconvinced, and the supporting infrastructure was lacking. Within two years, Microsystem had wound down. For Jacobovicz, this outcome became a reference point for thinking about when markets are genuinely receptive to new offerings.

Building Experience Elsewhere

Following this setback, Jacobovicz joined established organisations to develop his skills. Esso, the oil company, hired him from a pool of over two hundred engineering candidates. He progressed through several positions before reaching strategic roles at the Rio de Janeiro headquarters. Later, advisory work at Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant introduced him to the specific difficulties that public institutions faced when attempting to adopt new technologies.

Ventures That Gained Traction

Returning to entrepreneurship, Haroldo Jacobovicz founded Minauro with a clearer sense of his target market. The company leased computers to government agencies under long-term agreements that included regular equipment updates and technical support. This structure suited public sector procurement processes, and contracts followed across southern and southeastern Brazil.

Expansion came through purchasing software companies focused on administrative systems for municipalities. The resulting entity, the e-Governe Group, became established in local government technology services. A separate venture, Horizons Telecom, launched in 2010 to provide telecommunications to business clients. Investors acquired that company in early 2021.

Present Activities

Jacobovicz now runs Arlequim Technologies, which he established after exiting the telecommunications business. The startup offers virtualisation tools designed to improve how existing computers perform, potentially delaying the need for expensive hardware upgrades. Customers include organisations and individuals looking for cost-effective ways to extend the usefulness of their current equipment.

His focus remains on finding technology applications that address identifiable needs—an approach refined through decades of both missteps and accomplishments.