Haroldo Jacobovicz and the Business Case for Computer Virtualization
When older computers struggle to run modern software, users typically face a straightforward choice: purchase new hardware or accept diminished performance. Brazilian entrepreneur Haroldo Jacobovicz believes there is a third option, and his company Arlequim Technologies was built around delivering it.
An Engineer Who Chose a Different Path
The trajectory that led to Arlequim Technologies began decades earlier in Curitiba, where Jacobovicz grew up as the oldest of four children in a family deeply connected to civil engineering. His parents—Alfredo, who balanced engineering practice with teaching at university, and Sarita, a pioneering female graduate in the field—provided both the expectation and the means for him to pursue a similar profession.
Haroldo Jacobovicz completed the expected credentials, graduating from the Federal University of Paraná with a civil engineering degree following seven years of Military College preparation. Yet the discipline that captured his imagination was not structural analysis or construction management but rather the nascent field of business computing.
Testing Ideas Against Market Realities
His initial foray into entrepreneurship predated his graduation. Working alongside university friends with coding expertise, Jacobovicz established a company designed to bring automation to small retailers. The service targeted pharmacies and supermarkets, promising to computerise their stock management and sales processes.
The business folded within two years. Brazilian small business owners in that era showed little appetite for such technology, regardless of its potential benefits. The experience imparted an understanding that would shape subsequent decisions: market readiness matters as much as product quality. Corporate positions at Esso and later the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant followed, providing exposure to how both multinational corporations and state enterprises approached technology adoption. These roles offered perspectives that would inform his return to business ownership.
Arlequim’s Proposition to Customers
Founded in 2021, Arlequim Technologies markets virtualization services intended to enhance what existing hardware can accomplish. The technical approach aims to boost computer performance to levels that might otherwise require purchasing newer machines, presenting a cost-conscious alternative for various user groups.
The company pursues clients across three categories. Business customers seeking extended value from current equipment form one segment. Public sector bodies operating within procurement constraints represent another opportunity. Consumer markets, especially gaming enthusiasts affected by rising hardware demands as gamification expands across digital platforms, complete the target profile.