Guest: You Mon Tsang, Co-Founder & CEO of ChurnZero

In this episode of SaaS Backwards, Ken Lempit talks with ChurnZero co-founder and CEO You Mon Tsang about why retention and expansion are becoming core drivers of SaaS growth, not just post-sale activities. As investors put more weight on metrics like NRR and GRR, founders need to rethink how they build and scale their companies.

They discuss why customer success should be designed into the product and operating model from the beginning, and why too many companies still underinvest in their existing customer base.

The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping customer teams—removing low-value work while making teams more strategic—and why trust, proof of ROI, and customer context are critical in a crowded SaaS market.

Key takeaways

Retention is now a primary driver of SaaS growth.
Customer success needs to be built in early, not added later.
AI is most valuable when it enhances human decision-making.
Strong customer context leads to better outcomes and expansion.
Trust and proof matter more than ever in the AI era.

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Ep. 192 - Why SaaS Growth Now Starts After the Sale