...knowledge...
Yes, knowledge is one of the most needed when creating a cryptocurrency especially if this coin has it's own blockchain. Takes a lot of time and effort--proofreading and so on.
...invested...
Financial capacity of every developer or the team itself has a big factor. That is the main reason of an ICO/crowdfunding/etc.
... If there are short ways of achieving this with no risk i will like to know.
No, there's not.