Many business leaders are so focused on the big picture that the daily frustrations of IT - wasted spending, confusing choices, and a lack of clear direction - can hold them back.
Our mission is to empower ambitious business owners and leaders like you to make smarter technology decisions. We provide the clarity and confidence you need to build effective tech strategies, save money, find the right partners, and turn your technology into a powerful engine for success.
Working with us gives you a clear path forward. We help you:
Gain Strategic Clarity
Get clear, actionable insights to make informed technology decisions that align with your business goals.
Reduce Risk
Mitigate the risks that come with choosing new vendors and implementing new technology.
Optimise Your Investments
Ensure you're getting the maximum return on every dollar you spend on technology.
Enhance Efficiency
Streamline your processes and empower your team to work smarter, not harder.
Gain a Competitive Advantage
Leverage technology to create a sustainable advantage in your market.
Ant McMahon - Founder
Meet the founder: Anthony (Ant) McMahon is the seasoned technology strategist behind Target State. He excels at transforming complex tech challenges into clear, actionable plans by asking the right questions to solve the right problems.
Known for his straight-talking, jargon-free approach, Ant bridges the gap between the boardroom and the front line. Beyond his client work, he holds advisory roles across New Zealand, serves on the board of Camp Quality, and shares his insights as the host of the ‘Biz Bytes’ podcast.
Ready to take control of your technology?
We know every project is unique and requires a specific blend of skills. That's why we've built strong partnerships with a curated network of on-demand specialists and trusted IT companies.
This collaborative approach allows us to assemble the perfect team for your specific challenge. It means we can accelerate delivery and guarantee that every part of your project is handled by a genuine expert in that field.
Figuring it out, for real.
We cut through the noise to find the actual problems and build solutions that work, not just look good on paper.
Straight talk, no BS, no Jargon
We're honest with our clients, even when it's tough. We believe in doing the right thing, always. And we speak in plain language, not confusing jargon.
Digging deep, asking why
We don't just take things at face value. We're always asking 'why?' to get to the core of what's going on.
We've got your back.
We're reliable and responsive. When we say we'll do something, we do it. You can count on us. We explain things clearly, so you're never left in the dark.
Quick hits, lasting impact:
We get in, get it done right, and get out. We focus on delivering maximum value with minimal fuss, because your time (and budget) is precious. We're about quality, not endless billable hours.
"One of Ant's strengths is relating to owners in a visionary sense and talking to people who are on the ground...[Ant has a] wide understanding of different systems, processes and applications and can articulate where we're going and what the possibilities are...working with Ant has changed the way we make decisions about IT structures and support systems."
We hired Ant to support us with an important project after he was highly recommended by colleagues. Ant was responsive, speedy, super-helpful and helped us to make key decisions. We appreciated his broad experience, and his ability to hold a high level strategic view alongside expert advice on details. We will definitely be consulting with Ant again and are happy to recommend him.
"We don’t need a full-time CTO [chief technology officer]. Ant knows enough about our business he can deliver it virtually. He can translate things for us. During project management, Ant came into his own... Ant gets his head round your business and [took his time] understanding our context. He was really clear about pausing on investment into the app...Ant's inquisitive, curious and approachable - he's very easy to work with."
"Ant was really quick to understand the business model and our processes and IT structures."
"Ant helped us at the early stages of Aerotruth helping us to plan our technical infrastructure and ensure we built a product that would scale. Ant was great to work with and we really valued his support and contribution to Aerotruth"
"No question has ever been too silly. Ant's been accommodating and helped me understand. I've valued that he understands the charitable sector really well. He can look through the experience that he has with larger organisations and what's the reality for a small and mighty charity where you don't have teams of people that can come in and project manage an IT project"
"Having Anthony was really valuable – to lean in on his skillset – and his connections. He was able to provide impartial advice about the different strengths [of the providers]. It was important that we undertook a good due diligence process. Having Anthony there meant we had impartial selection as well, which is very important to us and [something] other not-for-profits [could benefit from]."
Unlike outsourced IT providers who often operate without deep business knowledge, Target State acted as our strategic partner to ensure technology was purposefully aligned with our business goals, driving real value and growth.
Ant has a clear, no-nonsense approach to technology. He focuses on outcomes, not hype, and always keeps the business context front and centre. In a world full of AI buzzwords and distractions, he’s someone who brings clarity and direction.
Although we’ve only just started working with Ant, it’s already clear he brings a thoughtful and structured approach. He quickly grasped the context and asked the right questions to get us moving in the right direction. I’m looking forward to seeing where we can take things from here, especially to ensure we cut out waste and hold vendors to account.
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