Successful business development often involves balancing organic growth with strategic acquisitions. For Haroldo Jacobovicz, this approach has characterized key phases of his technology entrepreneurship career spanning multiple ventures over four decades in
Brazil.
Foundation Through Direct Creation
Haroldo Jacobovicz’s early ventures demonstrated preference for building from scratch rather than acquiring existing operations. Despite training in civil engineering at the Federal University of Paraná, he established Microsystem with three computer-skilled during the 1980s.
Though this venture closed after two years when the market proved unprepared, it reflected Haroldo Jacobovicz’s initial entrepreneurial approach: identifying opportunities and developing new organizations to address them. This foundation-building tendency would continue
through subsequent ventures, including Minauro following his experiences at Esso and Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant.
Incorporating Strategic Acquisitions
As Haroldo Jacobovicz’s ventures gained traction, he incorporated strategic acquisitions to expand capabilities and market reach. Minauro, initially focused on computer rental and maintenance for public agencies, grew beyond hardware provision through acquiring software companies Consult, Perform, and Sisteplan.
These acquisitions brought specialized applications for tax, financial, administrative, health, and education management—key functional areas within public administration. The consolidated operation became the e-Governe Group, providing comprehensive solutions addressing various aspects of governmental operations.
This expansion demonstrated Haroldo Jacobovicz’s recognition that strategic acquisitions could complement organic development when expanding service offerings. Rather than developing all software components internally, he identified existing companies with established applications and integrated them into his business structure.
Building Telecommunications from Scratch
In contrast to his software expansion approach, Haroldo Jacobovicz established Horizons Telecom in 2010 using a foundation-building strategy. The company was “built from scratch” rather than through acquisition, utilizing “the best technical, human and strategic resources available.”
This approach reflected specific intentions regarding the telecommunications venture’s positioning and capabilities. By developing from foundation rather than acquiring existing operations, Haroldo Jacobovicz maintained greater control over infrastructure quality and service development—ensuring alignment with his vision for corporate telecommunications provision.
The company benefited from conceptual input from electrical engineer Renato Guerreiro, the first president of Anatel (Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency), providing regulatory expertise alongside Haroldo Jacobovicz’s business development capabilities. Within a decade, this foundation-building approach produced a reference operation in the corporate telecommunications
niche.
Strategic Exit Through Acquisition
While Haroldo Jacobovicz utilized acquisitions for business expansion, he also recognized their value for strategic exits. In early 2021, approximately a decade after its founding, Horizons Telecom was acquired by “a large investment group to integrate an ambitious expansion movement in the sector.”
This transaction demonstrated understanding of acquisition dynamics from both buyer and seller perspectives. Having built Horizons Telecom into a valuable telecommunications operation with established corporate market position, Haroldo Jacobovicz recognized appropriate timing for ownership transition through acquisition by entities
pursuing sector consolidation.
New Ventures Following Acquisition Exit
Following the Horizons Telecom acquisition, Haroldo Jacobovicz returned to foundation-building by establishing Arlequim Technologies in 2021. This computer virtualization startup focuses on improving computing performance for existing equipment across corporate, public sector, and retail markets.
This progression demonstrates continued preference for creating new ventures addressing emerging opportunities rather than exclusively pursuing acquisitions or being acquired. The pattern suggests Haroldo Jacobovicz values the development process itself—identifying needs and building organizations to address them—alongside financial considerations.
Balanced Approach to Business Development
Throughout his career
spanning hardware, software, telecommunications, and virtualization ventures, Haroldo Jacobovicz has demonstrated balanced approach to business development. He has created new organizations when addressing emerging opportunities, incorporated acquisitions when expanding established operations, and utilized acquisition exits when appropriate for business lifecycle stages.
This strategic flexibility regarding creation, acquisition, and exit timing reflects sophisticated understanding of business development approaches. Rather than adhering to single methodology, Haroldo Jacobovicz has adapted strategies to specific circumstances—utilizing various tools appropriately throughout his entrepreneurial career.
From Microsystem
through Minauro/e-Governe, Horizons Telecom, and Arlequim Technologies, these
varied approaches have supported his consistent mission: transforming ideas
into solutions that improve management, productivity, and development across
multiple sectors.