Haroldo Jacobovicz and the Evolution of IT Services in Brazil

Since the early 1990s,
Brazil’s information technology landscape has undergone remarkable
transformation, with entrepreneurs like Haroldo Jacobovicz playing
significant roles in this development. His career trajectory mirrors the
broader evolution of IT services in the country, from basic hardware provision
to sophisticated software solutions and telecommunications infrastructure.

From
Traditional Engineering to Technology Pioneer

Born into a family
with strong engineering traditions, Haroldo Jacobovicz completed seven years at
Military College before pursuing civil engineering at the Federal University of
Paraná. Despite his parents’ background in civil engineering—his father Alfredo
was a university professor in the field, while his mother Sarita was among
Paraná’s first female civil engineers—Jacobovicz found himself drawn to the
emergent possibilities of information
technology during the 1980s.

This pivot from
traditional engineering to technology entrepreneurship reflected broader shifts
occurring throughout Brazil’s economy as computerization began transforming business
operations across various sectors.

Early Market
Testing

Haroldo Jacobovicz’s
first entrepreneurial venture, Microsystem, predated his university graduation.
Founded with three technically skilled friends, the company aimed to provide
automated inventory control and cash register systems to small retail
businesses, pharmacies, and supermarkets.

Though this venture
closed after two years due to market unreadiness, it represented an important
testing ground for computerization in Brazil’s retail sector. The timing
challenges Jacobovicz encountered highlighted the gap between technological
possibility and market readiness that many early IT entrepreneurs faced
throughout developing economies.

Corporate
Experience and Strategic Insights

Following his initial
entrepreneurial attempt, Haroldo Jacobovicz joined Esso (now Exxon Mobil),
where he rapidly advanced from reserve salesman to market analyst for Brazil’s
South region, ultimately reaching a position handling
commercial tactics and new business at the company’s Brazilian
headquarters.

This corporate experience
provided crucial insights into how larger organizations implemented and
benefited from information technology—knowledge that would inform his
subsequent business ventures. His later position at the Itaipu Hydroelectric
Plant as an advisor to the Technical Director further expanded his
understanding of technology implementation challenges, particularly within
public sector contexts.

Hardware
Solutions for Public Sector Needs

Returning to
entrepreneurship in the 1990s, Haroldo Jacobovicz established Minauro,
providing computer rental and maintenance services primarily to public
agencies. The company’s four-year contracts with regular equipment replacement
and maintenance directly addressed the bureaucratic difficulties involved in government technology acquisition.

This business model
proved highly successful, securing numerous government contracts throughout
Brazil’s South and Southeast regions. Jacobovicz had identified a specific
institutional need and developed a tailored solution that accommodated public
sector procurement requirements while ensuring access to updated technology.

Expanding into
Software and Integrated Solutions

As Brazil’s IT sector
matured, Haroldo Jacobovicz expanded beyond hardware provision through
strategic acquisitions of software companies including Consult, Perform, and
Sisteplan. These moves resulted in the creation of the e-Governe Group,
offering comprehensive IT solutions specifically designed for public
administration needs.

This expansion
reflected the broader evolution of Brazil’s IT services market, which
increasingly demanded integrated solutions addressing both hardware and
software requirements. The e-Governe Group’s continued presence in numerous
Brazilian municipalities demonstrates the sustainability of this approach.

Telecommunications
Infrastructure Development

In 2010, Haroldo
Jacobovicz ventured into telecommunications
by founding Horizons Telecom, targeting corporate clients. Built “from
scratch using the best technical, human and strategic resources
available,” the company contributed to developing Brazil’s
telecommunications infrastructure for business applications.

Within a decade,
Horizons Telecom established itself as a reference in the corporate
telecommunications market, participating in the critical development of network
infrastructure that supports Brazil’s digital economy. The company’s
acquisition by a major investment group in early 2021 reflected its strategic
value within the telecommunications
sector.

Recent Focus on
Virtualization

Following trends
toward virtualization and cloud computing, Haroldo Jacobovicz launched Arlequim
Technologies in 2021. This venture focuses on improving computing
performance of existing equipment through virtualization technologies, addressing
needs across corporate, public sector, and retail markets.

This latest business
direction aligns with global shifts toward maximizing existing hardware
capabilities through software optimization rather than physical replacement—an
approach with both economic and environmental benefits.

Throughout these
various phases, Haroldo Jacobovicz’s career reflects the broader maturation of
Brazil’s IT services sector, from basic computerization to sophisticated
integrated solutions and infrastructure development. His ability to adapt to
changing technological paradigms while maintaining a focus on practical
business applications exemplifies the entrepreneurial agility required in
rapidly evolving technology markets.