India, Aug. 15 -- Most people outside Bengaluru have probably never heard of Namma Yatri-an app that is mostly used to aggregate auto rickshaws, like you would on Uber or Ola. However, it is possible that this narrative may turn out to be one of an also-ran. If it does, it will be a pity. Because the story of this little-known app contains a question much bigger than getting an auto in Bengaluru: When a company discovers a better way of doing business, should it try to become the biggest company in the market? Or should it become the invisible machinery on which everybody else operates?

This conflict emerged in a conversation with Manoj Nair, who works at the intersection of technology and public policy. He was asked to study it closely ...